Jakarta, April 20 -- Indonesia will recruit staff for its Red and White Village Cooperatives from local communities, the cooperatives minister said Monday, aiming to expand rural employment while strengthening village-based economic services.

Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono said non-managerial positions will be filled locally, rather than through centralized recruitment used for managerial roles.

"There will be staff from the villages; we will involve existing cooperative officials and give them opportunities to work in these cooperatives," he said after a coordination meeting in Jakarta.

He added that the government will also prioritize beneficiaries of social assistance programs, particularly those enrolled in the Family Hope ...