RI, S'pore cooperate on human resources<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Singaporean and Indonesian experts, identifying
\na number of common problems in their human resource management,
\nsuggested cooperation at all layers of society in the two
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Umar Juoro of Indonesia's Center for Information and
\nDevelopment Studies and Mohd. Ismail Shariff of the Association
\nof Moslem Professionals of Singapore pinpointed specific areas
\nof cooperation to solve human resource development problems in a
\ndiscussion yesterday.<\/p>\n
Shariff, said that Singapore's Malay and Moslem professionals
\ncan play a bridging role and provide linkages with relevant
\ntraining institutions between the two countries.<\/p>\n
The fact that there is a "language and cultural affinity"
\nbecause of common ethnic and religious background provides a
\nbonus for cooperative efforts, he pointed out.<\/p>\n
Both men were speakers at the two-day Conference on Indonesia-
\nSingapore: Cooperation for Competitiveness in a Changing World.
\nEach explored the various problems of human resource problems
\nfaced by their countries, and found some common ones that could
\nbe solved together.<\/p>\n
Juoro identified the major weak spot of Indonesian human
\nresource development as an education system which fails to
\nproduce a qualified and trained labor force.<\/p>\n
"Education does not produce graduates who are ready to work,"
\nJuoro told dozens of experts, officials and entrepreneurs
\nparticipating in the conference which ended yesterday.<\/p>\n
In addition, there are the low level of investment in human
\nresource development, reluctance of educated people to work in
\nthe manufacturing sector due to the low income and status, as
\nwell as disproportionate absorption of graduates into the
\ngovernment sector.<\/p>\n
"Despite the high economic growth, the anticipated shifts in
\nthe sectoral distribution of the labor force didn't take place,"
\nJuoro said.<\/p>\n
The agricultural sector labor force remains large at 46
\npercent, contributing 17.6 percent to Indonesia's GDP of US$ 651
\nbillion. The manufacturing sector only absorbed 13 percent of the
\nworkforce in 1994, contributing 21.1 percent to GDP.<\/p>\n
Finally, there is also a problem of "education mismatch",
\nJuoro said. The qualifications of college and university
\ngraduates do not equip them for the jobs desired and may be
\nirrelevant to the needs of industries, he pointed out.<\/p>\n
Singapore, Shariff said, also faces a number of human
\nresources development problems. "The crucial question for
\nSingapore is how to upgrade our low-skilled workers to match
\nfuture demands," Shariff said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that cooperation take place between the
\ngovernments and privately managed training institutions. (swe)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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