Rp 1t allocated for labor projects

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Manpower has allocated almost Rp 1 trillion (US$125 million) to employ jobless people in labor intensive programs in all 27 provinces.

Minister of Manpower Theo L. Sambuaga said here yesterday that the funds, taken from the 1998/1999 state budget, would be used to finance projects focused on alleviating the impact of drought and unemployment in urban and rural areas, and another to address the dismissal of skilled workers in 18 provinces.

"About Rp 598 billion is being allocated to employ about 116,000 unskilled workers every day in labor-intensive projects in 215 regencies and mayoralties, while the remaining Rp 399 billion has been allocated to employ about 65,000 skilled workers every day in various jobs," he said.

With the projects, about 181,000 job opportunities will be open every day for jobless people in all the provinces, he said.

Theo said unskilled workers who were unemployed because of the prolonged drought would be employed in numerous projects such as the upgrading of traditional markets, constructing irrigation systems, road development and in agribusiness.

"Skilled workers, dismissed because of the monetary crisis, will be employed as consultants and administrative staff in rural cooperatives and small-scale enterprises," he said. (rms)