Locals irked over shutout from jobs

TANGERANG (JP): Dozens of Paku Alam villagers in Serpong subdistrict protested on Wednesday their village chief's decision to prioritize migrants to fill job opportunities at a nearby shoe factory.

"Village chief Sulaiman should have given the opportunities to his own people, not outsiders. He has also taken 'administrative' levies from the prospective workers amounting to Rp 500,000," a villager, Kosim, said.

The management of shoe factory PT Pratama Abadi was not available for comment.

Tangerang administration spokesman Slamet Putranto expressed concern over the reports that the village chief acted as a labor broker.

"We will check and clarify the matter. This is wrong, especially when the village chief has illegally accepted levies," Slamet said. (41/edt)