Timorese say no to apprenticeship

Timorese say no to apprenticeship

DILI, East Timor (JP): Many of an estimated 2,000 newly-recruited
civil servants have rejected the government's plan to send them
to other provinces on apprenticeships.

They have skeptically said that they fear they will be forced
to accept foreign values incompatible with theirs or face
discrimination in other provinces.

Some give somewhat simplistic reasons like they cannot afford
to part from their families for one to two years. Several said
they would rather quit than apprentice in other provinces.

"I'm afraid I will be discriminated against if I work in
another province. Just look, even here were are treated
discriminately by people from other provinces," said Maria, who
made it clear she would quit if the government insisted on
sending her elsewhere.

The provincial government had planned to send newly-recruited
civil servants to the other 26 provinces on apprenticeships
before being permanently posted in East Timor.

State Minister for Administrative Reform T.B. Silalahi has
said that the apprenticeship program is needed to broaden East
Timorese youths' horizons. (yac/pan)