Government To Prevent Next Wave Of Unemployment

Jakarta, Dec 3 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government will take steps to prevent the next wave of unemployment, caused by layoffs, said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a cabinet meeting at his office, on Monday. "We will try our best to prevent companies from putting an end to the hiring process," said the president. To prevent the next wave of unemployment, the president has urged all the parties, including the regional and provincial governments, business players and the labour union to ensure that there are no layoffs in the future. "The provincial government, the central government and the labour union federation must work together to prevent the next wave of unemployment," said the president. He explained that in order to reduce unemployment, growth in the real sector including the agricultural sector, the industry sector and the services sector should be encouraged. "There is an increasing need for agricultural commodities. Hence, we should work towards increasing the quantity of agricultural products," said the president. The president held a cabinet meeting on Monday, and Vice President Boediono and a number of cabinet ministers attended this meeting. They talked about the unemployment issue, and they looked into the creation of job opportunities in the country. Apart from the vice president, the following officials also attended the meeting: the Coordinating Minister for Economy, Hatta Rajasa, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto, the Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare, Agung Laksono, the Manpower and Transmigration Minister, Muhaimin Iskandar, the Finance Minister, Agus Martowardojo and the State Enterprises Minister, Dahlan Iskan. President Yudhoyono has urged the ministers to take steps to maintain the nation`s economic growth and to reduce the nation`s unemployment rate which has reached 6 percent.