Ministry weighs banking layoffs

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.