The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it plans to cut down on the number of its employees as part of austerity measures.

Currently, there are about 700 workers at the foreign ministry.

According to Mawien Makol, the Spokesman for the Ministry, 200 workers will be laid off. However, none of these workers will be from the country’s foreign embassies.

Ambassador Mawien said he and the Minister of Foreign Affairs are considering who will go and who will stay.

“We will do it soon rather than later and the ministry is going to be really careful in doing it,” Mr. Mawien added, “because the reduction the number always is not easy thing and it takes a lot of issues, a lot of planning.’’

After the shut-down of oil production last year, the government was forced to introduce austerity measures.

These measures are expected to remain in place until the end of the year.