Manpower office inundated by people seeking work

TANGERANG (JP): The Tangerang office of the Ministry of Manpower has been swarmed by scores of people seeking jobs as the number of dismissed workers continues to rise because of the severe impact of the prolonged economic crisis, an official said on Friday.

At least 6,000 people have visited the manpower office in search of job opportunities since the end of the Idul Fitri holiday last month, Farid Appandi, the office's deputy head, said.

"An average of 500 job seekers visit the office every day. The number of new applicants is likely to continue increasing," Farid said.

During the economic crisis the number of workers dismissed in the city is estimated at 45,000 people from 580 companies.

He said that the large number of people seeking jobs at the manpower office is overwhelming because job openings at surviving companies are limited.

Moreover, most people finding employment sign short-term contracts according to a company's limited need to fill orders. As soon as the orders are filled the contracts are terminated, Farid said.

He said the limited number of job opportunities was caused by the fact that most investors were still too cautious to enter the country. Most investors are watching to see what the government will do during this time of political instability, he said.

He expressed concern that many job seekers do not have sufficient skills.

He suggested that people improve their skills by joining training courses held jointly by the manpower office and various companies.

"Whenever there is an announcement that a certain company needs, say, 300 workers, the number of applicants usually far exceeds the available vacancies," Farid said, adding that only a small percentage of hopefuls met the job requirements.

Several people seeking jobs said that they were forced to go to the manpower office because there were no opportunities in their villages.

"I left my village to join my relatives in Tangerang," said Sudarno, 19, a graduate of a senior high school in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta.

Warsito, 21, of Ngawi, East Jakarta, said, "I am trying to find whatever work will enable me to be self-reliant and help my family." Warsito, a graduate of a senior technical high school, has been out of work for the last two years.

He said that he took the entrance exam to join the civil service, but he did not pass because he did not have the money to pay a bribe.

Farid suggested that the Tangerang mayoralty and regency initiate more labor intensive projects to help the unemployed.

He said the administrations could use a portion of the Rp 6 billion provided by the central government under the social safety net program to finance the projects.

Under the program, the Tangerang mayoralty received Rp 4 billion and the Tangerang regency received Rp 2 million, he said. (41/jun)