Indonesian ministers will no longer be able to bring their wives and children on official overseas trips after a ban by President Suharto on what Indonesian's are calling ministerial shopping sprees. The ban comes in the wake of a row earlier this month over a trip to Thailand by a large group of civil servants' wives, which critics said was funded by the transport ministry. Millions of Indonesians have been affected by the current economic crisis. There are growing calls, some from inside the government, for a curb on official corruption. Our Jakarta correspondent, Jonathan Head reports:

It's an open secret in Indonesia that the perks of office enjoyed by government officials are also extended to their close relatives, and for years the practice has been tolerated. But in recent weeks the press, which is normally reluctant to target individuals, has given extensive publicity to some specific cases of alleged corruption.

Last month the minister for manpower was accused of using money from the state controlled workers insurance fund to bribe members of parliament to pass a bill quickly. He says the payments were authorised by President Suharto.

Then, two weeks ago, the press reported a shopping trip to Thailand by dozens of wives of officials from the transport ministry after a large number of boxes were intercepted by customs. The minister denied that the trip was financed by official money.

But the government is clearly concerned that such reports could fuel public anger at a time when many ordinary people are facing pay cuts or job losses because of the economic crisis. President Suharto has now ordered officials not to take their wives and children on work related trips.