'New govt must provide opportunity'
Economists and labor analysts have warned of the possibility of a higher unemployment rate this year due to heightened security and the upcoming general elections, which may hinder investments and thus worsen the statistic of about 40 million unemployed out of a 100 million-plus workforce. The Jakarta Post talked to a few individuals who suggested that the nation focus on manpower and employment issues in the new year.
Amin Said Husni is deputy secretary-general of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and PKB faction chairman at the House of Representatives (DPR):
We hope the 2004 elections will provide the momentum to establish political stability. The president and vice president will be elected directly by the people. The new president and vice president will thus have more legitimacy from the people.
The state administration will become conducive to providing more opportunities for the economy to grow. People can start businesses, and economic recovery will take place.
Still, the nation has an important duty to strengthen law enforcement.
If we do this well, we can hope for a better situation. People's trust will grow and so will investors' trust, and an increase in investment will push the economy forward and reduce the number of unemployed.
Surya Tjandra, is executive director of the Trade Union Rights Center and former deputy director of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute:
I hope this year would be better for workers and labor unions, although I'm pessimistic about this due to the gloomy situation for workers this year.
Workers and their unions should unite to fight exploitation by employers. The manpower regulations applied in 2003 gave too much power to the employers.
We can no longer expect the government to help settle labor disputes because, according to the new regulations, the disputes should be settled through a bipartite comprising workers and employers.
Aan, 25, just graduated from the School of Economy at the University of Atma Jaya. He lives with his parents in Pangkalan Jati, South Jakarta:
For the general elections, the government must assure nationwide security before and after the event to prevent any chaos.
The direct presidential elections will be a new thing for our country, through which we can really depend on a future leader based on his or her qualifications. I hope all Indonesians will think straight instead of emotionally when voting for the president.
The elections are not only in the interest of a few select people or parties; they are in the country's interest. Our next president must be capable, intelligent and low-profile.
I hope the new administration will focus on the high unemployment rate, which is over a million people. The government must have a better plan and better policies to reduce the number of unemployed and to eradicate -- as much as possible -- corruption, collusion and nepotism to provide an environment of equal opportunity.
-- The Jakarta Post