Rice shortage hits regency staff

BEKASI, West Java (JP): Dozens of Bekasi regency staff have complained that they did not get their monthly rice allowance over the weekend.

The regency employees cooperative, which distributes the monthly rice allowance, began issuing the rice on Thursday.

The rice is normally distributed on the 11th or 12th of every month.

"I stood in a queue to receive rice for more than three hours this morning, but the official in charge told me that the rice was finished," said a female employee who requested anonymity.

She quoted the cooperative official as saying: "It is possible some employees took more rice than they were allowed, causing the rice shortage."

A regency public relations officer, Amiroh, told The Jakarta Post that the regency had around 2,000 employees.

"We provide some 3.6 tons of rice each month for our employees," Amiroh said.

The official in charge of distributing the rice must have made a mistake because he was working alone, she said. (kod)