Ministry weighs banking layoffs

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Manpower is considering potential dismissals in the banking sector as the government decides which banks will be liquidated.

Ministry secretary-general Suwarto told a workshop here on migrant workers that the subject was discussed in a recent Ministry meeting, Antara reported Friday.

The subject took up five hours, he said.

The banking sector faces the prospect of thousands of dismissals as the government is yet to announce which banks it will liquidate.

According to Suwarta, among the topics discussed was the ability of banks to compensate workers and how to avoid possible unrest among unsatisfied dismissed employees. The possibility of overseas employment was also talked about, Suwarto said.

Minister Fahmi Idris said the ministry would do its best to see that employees' rights were not infringed upon. The decision to dismiss thousands of workers "was for the greater good", he said.

Meanwhile, unions of the banking and finance sector (Aspek Indonesia) are scheduled to hold their first congress beginning on Saturday.