Govt to improve quality of services sector

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is to improve its performance in the services sector, which currently lags behind other industrial sectors, a government minister said yesterday.

Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief pointed to countries like Singapore and the United States as countries to be imitated for their strong services sector.

"Despite lacking major commodity industries of its own, Singapore, for instance, excels in the service sector," he said, adding that it was time for Indonesia to do the same, particularly in the export of its work force abroad.

"We are studying this and trying to improve the quality of this sector. It is a very strategic sector," said Latief after meeting with President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace.

Latief then unveiled a plan in which the government, together with various professional organizations, would undertake to boost the ability of the Indonesian work force so that it can also excel in this field.

One of the first steps is to hold a national meeting of professional organizations some time next month. The gathering of doctors, public accountants, lawyers, nurses, architects, seamen, and engineers will be opened by President Soeharto.

"We'll boost this sector of service," he said, citing journalists, too, as professionals who need to improve their service and ability.

"Why aren't any of our journalists working at CNN (Cable News Network) for instance, why don't our cameramen become cameramen at the BBC (British Broadcasting Cooperation) if their ability is really good enough," he said.

Apart from discussing the service sector, Latief yesterday said that his ministry is also considering establishing a consultancy firm to aid Indonesian graduates returning from abroad seek employment.

"The issue of employment at home was one of the questions frequently posed when I met with Indonesian students on my recent trip to San Francisco," he said.

"There's a possibility that the Ministry of Manpower will prepare a section in its offices to establish a consultancy for both our foreign and locally educated graduates," he remarked.

Latief's trip to San Francisco was part of an extended foreign tour in which he also went to Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Latief said there are currently 3,388 Indonesians undergoing work training in Japan. This number is expected to triple in the near future to about 10,000.

While in Saudi Arabia, Latief said, he found that many Indonesians were working there using their visas obtained for umrah, the minor haj pilgrimage. (mds)