Investors told to use labor

Investors told to use labor

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Batam branch on Thursday called on investors to develop labor-intensive projects to help lower unemployment.

The head of the chapter's industrial division, Irsafin, was quoted by Antara as saying in Batam, Riau, that the government moves to provide incentives to lure foreign investors would be useless for the people if those who came built only capital- intensive industries.

"Any kind of business brought by foreign investors to Indonesia should be able to absorb the local work force. If they only employ expatriates, it will only create new, bigger problems because the country's unemployment rate will continue to soar," he said.

He also urged the government to pay more attention to the issue when approving foreign investment projects. (his)