Jakarta – The number of unemployment in Indonesia has reached 37 million, a senior official said.

The existing program for jobless eradication was inadequate, Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare and Poverty Eradication Basri Hasanuddin was quoted Wednesday by the Jakarta Post daily as saying.

"The program has not worked due to lack of coordination," Hasanuddin said here at a seminar, adding that last year's unemployment figure stood at 36 million.

Meanwhile, Director General of Manpower Placement and Development Tjepy F. Aloewie said that several ministries have already had good programs. "The target is to implement the programs together with good coordination, especially in the regions. The programs have to absorb a lot of workers," he added.

Hasanuddin also said Tuesday at an ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian nations) meeting on poverty eradication held here Tuesday, that the poverty in Southeast Asia needs a greater attention and must be uprooted soon.

The minister said that "there must be a joint network on this( poverty eradication) among ASEAN countries because the ASEAN must work together to improve the people's welfare."