Firms get awards for productivity

Firms get awards for productivity

JAKARTA (JP): The government has selected 11 companies for the inaugural Paramakarya awards for companies with best performances in terms of increasing their overall productivity.

The awards will be conferred by President Soeharto in a ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta next Tuesday, to coincide with the presentation of awards to companies with the best record in preventing industrial accidents.

The winners of the Paramakarya award are selected from the country's small and medium-scale companies, Andy Sangaji said. Andy is director general for training at the Ministry of Manpower which oversees the National Productivity Council.

Andy declined to give the names of the 11 companies selected for the awards but stressed that they were picked from 280 nominations that were sent in to the council.

The award is an incentive, honoring companies in the country which strive to improve their productivity, from the aspects of their workers, finances, technological application, organization and marketing, he said.

Frans Mardihartanto of the Bandung Institute of Technology, a member of the jury team which selected the 11 winners, said the jury employed strict criteria in reaching their selections.

Factors considered include their compliance with tax rules, wage regulations and their participation in the workers security program, he said.

A 12th company, in the business of high technology industry, selected for the award, turned it down for no apparent reason, Frans said.

The 11 winners are from North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Jakarta, East Java, West and East Kalimantan. Their names will be announced at the time the awards are presented.(rms)