Jakarta - forest moratorium plan that will be done by government workers to potentially eliminate as many as 300,000 people. The figure is an estimate of the oil palm industry and its derivatives.

According to the President of Confederation of Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (KSBSI) Rekson Silaban, a total of two hectares of oil palm can absorb a workforce. Currently the area of oil palm which is expected to stop operating when the moratorium area of 300,000 hectares.

"If the moratorium is over two years, then the potential loss of its workforce of 300,000 people," he said at the office Apindo, Kuningan, Jakarta, Monday (02/07/2010).

According to him, this requires decisive action from the government. Whether the moratorium should be continued or not, since it deals directly with many parties.

On the same occasion, the Executive Director of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) Fadhil Hasan said, now there are 7.5 million hectares of oil palm are already planted and ready to be produced.

This land development per year could reach 300 000 hectares. If the land is suspended it will potentially eliminate many domestic labor.

Fadil said that if the upstream industry is interrupted, then the downstream industry can certainly be disturbed. Whereas the downstream oil industry accounted for a significant export.

"But it's the development of downstream industries is not as fast as the upper reaches because the price of crude oil alone is very high," he added.

In addition, the government also asked to complete the Provincial Spatial Plan (PSP) to clarify the status of land to be used palm plantation business.

It is necessary to support the policy of a moratorium on conversion of primary forest and peatlands with effect from January 1, 2011 to come.