Unemployment in E. Timor serious

Unemployment in E. Timor serious

DILI, East Timor: Chief of the provincial manpower office Anton Setiyono said that unemployment in the youngest province is a pressing problem which needs "serious" attention.

He said the government needs to create jobs, not just call for employers to absorb job seekers and conduct vocational training programs.

He said that about 4,000 people enter the very limited job market in East Timor each year.

The unemployment problem is aggravated by the fact that East Timorese generally want to become civil servants. "This makes vocational training useless," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

He added that the local government plans to intensify vocational training programs in the hope that the participants can open businesses in husbandry, agriculture and small-scale industry. (pan)