GOVT URGED TO TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT MASSIVE WORKERS' LAYOFFS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 4 (Antara) - Global economic gloom and the pronged drop in world commodity prices have affected businesses in Indonesia, with scores of large companies being forced to shut down their factories.          A score of major companies, such as PT Toshiba, PT Panasonic, PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia, and PT Ford Motor Indonesia are planning to close their factories in Indonesia, which will result in massive layoffs of workers.          This will lead to thousands of Indonesian workers being laid off and becoming unemployed.          The Indonesian Workers' Union Federation recorded that the number of workers affected by the layoffs has reached 1,700 at PT Panasonic, 970 at PT Toshiba, 1,000 at Panasonic Lighting Cikarang Bekasi, 1,200 at PT Samoin, and 500 at PT Starlink.          "These layoffs will threaten the livelihoods of the victims' families, particularly nondescript workers. I hope the government will think of the impact of the layoffs and take anticipatory steps," legislator Okky Asokawati, a member of Commission IX on manpower of the House of Representatives (DPR) said on Thursday.