Indonesia - 70,000 textile workers laid off since fuel price hike
Antara News Agency via Jakarta Post
JAKARTA: About 70,000 workers have been laid off since the government hiked fuel prices recently, Indonesian Textile Association chairman Benny Sutrisno said on Monday.
"The workers are from Bandung in West Java and Surakarta in Central Java. I expect the number to reach 100,000 by the end of this year," said Benny. "In total, some 500,000 will have to be laid off because fuel comprises 30 percent of production costs, not to mention other costs."
Benny said that some 300,000 workers were from medium and large industries while the remaining 200,000 workers were from small-size industries.
"Laying off workers is a tough decision to make because of the strong relations with workers and the high severance pay. ...
(25 October 2005)
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Fuel crisis might shut UK industry, admits minister
Roya Nikkhah and Melissa Kite, UK Telegraph
The Government has admitted that companies across Britain might be forced to close this winter because of fuel shortages.
Malcolm Wicks, the energy minister, made the admission to The Sunday Telegraph just days after the Government lambasted industry chiefs for being alarmist for suggesting the possibility of a replay of the three-day week.
Mr Wicks said: "The balance between supply and demand for energy is uncomfortably tight. I think if we have a colder-than-usual winter given the supply shortages, certain industries could suffer real difficulties." The admission was made after this newspaper revealed that Britain could be paralysed by energy shortages if the winter is colder than average.
The Met Office says there is a 67 per cent likelihood of prolonged cold this year after almost a decade of mild winters. That, coupled with high fuel prices, raises the fear that industry will not be able to cope.
(23 October 2005)
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