Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government is eyeing three sectors to absorb workers to be affected by a moratorium on dispatch of migrant workers to Saudi Arabia as of August 1.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the opening of a cabinet plenary meeting on implementation of 2010 budget and the draft budget for 2012 here on Friday said he hoped the three sectors namely infrastructure, manufacturing and plantation could absorb the unemployed following the implementation of the moratorium.

The Indonesian government decided to conduct the moratorium following the execution of one of its migrant workers in Saudi Arabia recently. It had strongly protested the Saudi government for not notifying its representative about the execution. Ruyati, the female migrant worker, was beheaded for killing her employer.

President Yudhoyono said the infrastructure sector would be the first sector to be included in the implementation of MP3EI (Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development) because of its big potential to absorb workers.

"Early in July, the vice president and me would directly lead the MP3EI committee. I wish from the master plan we can carry out at least the first phase of infrastructure development that would correlate with employment," he said.

President Yudhoyono also named manufacturing sector as one of the reliable sectors to absorb workers.

He also called on all ministers concerned as well as regional heads to also exploit investment opportunities in the plantation sector in view of the sector`s potential to absorb workers.

President Yudhoyono also hoped that the smallholder credit scheme (KUR) could be expanded and improved to support micro-, small and medium businesses.

"Actually if all of them are carried out more employment will be created and solution will be available in exchange for the moratorium," he said.

President Yudhoyono has called on all regional heads including district heads and city mayors to think about creating employment in their regions to accommodate workers who plan to work abroad.
(T.D013/H-YH/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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