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)