Jakarta (ANTARA) – 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 Program (PKH), for available positions.“Beneficiaries can work as cashiers, security personnel, drivers and other staff. The key is to involve local residents,” he said.Juliantono emphasized that recruitment for operational roles will be handled independently at the village level to ensure community participation and ownership.At the same event, PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara President Director Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota reiterated that all support staff must come from local communities.Under the program, Agrinas is tasked with overseeing construction of cooperative facilities and managing operations for the first two years before transferring control to local cooperative boards.Mota said priority will be given to PKH beneficiaries, while applicants from outside the village will not be eligible.He added that recruitment is being coordinated through village heads and secretaries, with each cooperative expected to employ 17 staff members, excluding managerial roles.The government estimates the initiative could generate around 1.56 million new jobs in rural areas.The Red and White Village Cooperatives are designed as integrated hubs providing financial services, basic goods, and community health support, among other services.With more than 80,000 cooperatives established nationwide, the government is accelerating development of supporting infrastructure, including retail outlets and warehouses, to ensure their effective operation.