Govt to generate 3m jobs in 2009

Desy Nurhayati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 12/13/2008 11:21 AM  

To help address looming layoffs, the government is targeting to create 3 million new jobs next year through various state projects. 

Out of the 3 million, 1.1 million are expected to come from infrastructure projects, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said Friday after a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office. 

"Infrastructure projects during this year have provided 800,000 jobs, so expect a lot from infrastructure projects for next year," Djoko told reporters. 

Other sectors -- including transportation, energy, agriculture and other labor-intensive sectors, are also expected to contribute to the creation of the 3 million jobs, he said. 

He said that of the 3 million job opportunities to be created, 500,000 were needed in direct response to anticipated mass layoffs. 

To accelerate infrastructure projects nationwide, especially the construction of toll roads, he urged regional administrations to facilitate land acquisition -- which has become a stumbling block in the country's infrastructure projects. 

"There's no problem with the contractors and the budget. We only need regional administrations to accelerate the land acquisition." 

Under the 2009 state budget, up to Rp 34.9 trillion has been allocated for the ministry, mostly for projects under its supervision.