Manpower launches own program of apprenticeship<\/p>\n
TANGERANG, West Java (JP): The Ministry of Manpower is
\nintroducing industrial apprenticeship programs using vocational
\ntraining centers it runs as the basis.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Director General for Manpower Training and
\nProductivity Andy Sangadji Rachman inaugurated the scheme at PT
\nGunadjaja Indah, a sack manufacturing company which is one of the
\nfirst companies to be enlisted into the program.<\/p>\n
The scheme were launched yesterday for 142 workers who are now
\ntraining at vocational centers in Jakarta, Tangerang and Bandung.<\/p>\n
Apprenticeship appears to be the name of the game nowadays as
\nthe government is pressing on with its human resources
\ndevelopment program.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Education and Culture in July also
\nincorporated apprenticeship schemes into the curriculum of
\ntechnical schools. Minister Wardiman Djojonegoro has already
\nsecured pledges of cooperation from more than 6,000 manufacturing
\ncompanies from all over Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief formally launched his scheme
\nin East Kalimantan last month. The scheme is intended more for
\nadult workers with little or no skills.<\/p>\n
Latief said some 500 workers have already been enlisted for
\nthe apprenticeship programs introduced at vocational centers in
\nNorth Sumatra, South Sumatra, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java,
\nEast Java, Bali, West and East Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Skilled workers<\/p>\n
The program is the key answer to the low quality of the
\nIndonesian work force, as well as to meet the increasing demand
\nfor skilled workers in the labor market, Sangadji said yesterday.<\/p>\n
He said skill and experience now count much more at work than
\na certificate or diploma. \"We have an abundance of educated
\nresources, junior and senior high school graduates and university
\ngraduates, but many of them are unemployed because they have no
\nskills sought by industries.\"<\/p>\n
He appealed to the business community to participate in the
\nscheme.<\/p>\n
\"Bear in mind that almost 77 percent of the work force in
\nIndonesia has only primary school backgrounds, or never completed
\nschool,\" he said at the ceremony also attended by representatives
\nof companies which are sponsoring the apprenticeship program.<\/p>\n
Under the apprenticeship program, companies are encouraged to
\nrecruit trainees and send them to the government-owned vocational
\ntraining centers as well as provide them with in-house trainings.<\/p>\n
An apprenticeship program runs for two years.<\/p>\n
Andy Arifin Baso, mail manager PT Gunadjaja Indah, said his
\ncompany has already recruited 16 workers and enlisted them for
\nthe apprenticeship program.<\/p>\n
\"Despite the high cost, the business world will reap the fruit
\nlater,\" he said. \"The 16 workers should acquire skill, a
\nprofessional attitude and work ethos at the end of the two-year
\nprogram.\"<\/p>\n
His company has invested in training equipment and in addition
\nis spending around Rp 1.7 million a month to pay for the training
\ninstructors and stipends for the 16 trainees.<\/p>\n
Ismail, 20, a graduate of a senior technical school, said he
\nwas recruited as an apprentice at the state-owned construction
\nfirm PT Pembangunan Perumahan.<\/p>\n
He said the program has cost him nothing and he has signed a
\ncontract for the duration of the apprenticeship program.<\/p>\n
\"I am satisfied with the apprenticeship scheme because all
\nparticipants, besides being given basic knowledge, are also sent
\nto work at sponsor companies.\" (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/manpower-launches-own-program-of-apprenticeship-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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