Boost Investment In Labor-Intensive Sectors: BKPM Chief

Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- Increasing investment in labor-intensive industrial sectors may stop the sending of Indonesian migrant workers abroad, Chief of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Franky Sibarani said.

The government may stop the sending of migrant workers as domestic helpers abroad if it can create a wide range of job opportunities, he noted in a press statement released on Monday.

"Increasing investment in labor-intensive industries could be a solution to stop the sending of migrant workers abroad. Many labor-intensive industries, including in the areas of garments, textiles and children's toys, mostly employ female workers," he explained.

The BKPM is holding intense discussions to boost investment in these labor-intensive industries, Sibarani affirmed.
The development of labor-intensive industries is an urgent requirement to bring down unemployment and poverty rates in Indonesia, the BKPM chief pointed out.

Furthermore, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) revealed that till August 2014, 78.86 million laborers of the total of 121.87 million worked full time, while 26.09 million worked part time, 9.68 million were semi-employed, and 7.24 million were unemployed.

"Regardless of what the definition is, unemployment is a serious problem. So to support the Jokowi-JK government's target of creating two million jobs per year, investment in labor-intensive sectors must be boosted," Sibarani emphasized. (WDY)