The Belait Labour Department has recorded a total of 1,913 active local applicants still waiting for jobs in the district.

Senior Labour Officer, Awg Bakri bin Mat Said at the Employment Centre, Belait Labour Office said that the department is constantly urging private companies to groom and prioritise locals to fill job vacancies in their organisations.

"Over the years, we receive lesser information on job vacancies available in the Belait government departments," Awg Bakri said.

And last year alone, only three government departments in Belait came forward to the Labour Office and sought assistance to look for the most suitable applicants for the positions.

He therefore urged local job applicants not to be selective or fully rely on employment in the government sector.

Yesterday afternoon, an employment contract signing ceremony was held at the Belait Labour Office to mark the recruitment of 11 locals by SKSWood in support of their 'Bruneianisation programme'.

The locals will be deployed for offshore work and will start reporting for duty on April 13.

The large recruitment serves to supplement the existing employees who are carrying out offshore work after SKSWood secured the contract extension with BSP until 2010. The large recruitment is also carried out in the company's bid to support local employment.

Awg Bakri in his welcoming remarks lauded the efforts by SKSWood to provide work and training opportunities to locals, particularly those who have registered with the Labour Office.