Companies should train workers

Companies should train workers

JAKARTA (JP): The government is urging more state and private companies to undertake vocational training to help prepare their employees tackle the era of globalization.

After reporting to President Soeharto here yesterday, Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto reiterated that the government gives incentives for companies wishing to run their own vocational education programs.

Companies can include spending for their own vocational education programs in their operating costs, meaning that such spending would be exempt from tax and so reduce their overall tax burden.

"This incentive is given by the government to encourage more companies to establish and run their own vocational training programs," Hartarto told journalists.

He noted that some 200 companies have conducted various schemes already, ranging from training to establishing polytechnic schools. They include PT Petrokimia Gresik, PT Krakatau Steel and electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara -- all state-owned companies.

Currently more than 1,000 companies are considered to have the capacity to establish and run vocational education centers for the employees of both their own and other companies, Hartarto said.

He added that the government is considering to make it into a national drive so that in two to three years' time, there will be more skilled laborers in Indonesia.

Other countries like India, Germany, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan have special laws requiring companies to conduct systematic vocational education programs, Hartono said. (rid)