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)