Rp 13.5b paid by social security

Rp 13.5b paid by social security

TANGERANG (JP): The local office of state social security
agency PT Jamsostek has paid out Rp 13.51 billion to 2,649
members in the first nine months of the year, its chief said on
Friday.

Salim R.H. Toha said the amount was much higher than the
previous year, without disclosing figures for 1997.

Recipients were people recently dismissed by their companies
in the continuing crisis.

He estimated that Tangerang would record a total of 40,000
laid-off workers and 342 retired employees from 1,500 firms this
year.

"Jamsostek has allocated Rp 40 billion for the dismissed
workers and some Rp 560 million for the retired employees," Salim
said.

He did not elaborate on the average amount of payments to the
recipients. (41/ivy)