Indonesia and Australia launch labor cooperation

Indonesia and Australia launch labor cooperation

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Australia agreed yesterday to
boost cooperation in manpower development.

Visiting Australian Minister for Employment, Education,
Training and Youth Affairs Amanda Vanstone and Indonesian
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief signed a Memorandum of
Cooperation.

Under this agreement, the countries will increase staff
exchanges, conduct joint projects in mining and tourism training,
labor market programs and projects which encourage private sector
involvement in manpower development.

"This document reflects the seriousness of the two countries
to continue cooperation in manpower development," Abdul Latief
said.

He said unemployment generated many other social problems, and
the new co-operation would help reduce the adverse impacts of
such problems.

Latief singled out a training program for middle businessmen
as the most interesting feature of the cooperation. Under the
scheme, Indonesian businessmen will be sent to study in
Australia, or Australian trainers will be sent here.

The two countries had previously signed a similar memorandum
of cooperation in April 1994.

Vanstone said cooperation was needed not only because the two
countries were geographically close, but also because of
objective economic development needs.

Umar Juworo of the Center for Information and Development
Studies said Indonesia needed to learn from Australia's success
in managing manpower issues.

He pointed out the need for cooperation at a non-government
level. "There shouldn't be only government-to-government
cooperation, but between training institutions in the two
countries as well," Umar said. "That way, cooperation would be
more effective. (05)