Indonesia, Australia forge ties in manpower sector

JAKARTA (JP): Australia will help Indonesia develop a labor market information system in the first bilateral cooperation effort in the field of manpower between the two countries.

The plan was discussed here yesterday between officials of the two countries as a follow-up to a memorandum of understanding signed between Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief and his Australian counterpart Simon Crean in Canberra in April.

The officials yesterday also reviewed the possibilities of Australia providing training programs in various fields of expertise.

Head of the Ministry of Manpower's Center for Research and Development Yudo Swasono said Australia has a fine track record in developing labor market information and training programs, with some having been adopted by Germany and the United States.

Two centers for labor market information and employment services will be developed with the help of the UN Development Program (UNDP) and Australian consultants, he said.

UNDP will provide Indonesia with financial assistance to pay the Australian experts, he added.

Australia is also helping Indonesia build tourism training centers in Yogyakarta and Bali, two of Indonesia's main tourist centers. Officials have not decided on the site for a third training center, this one for mine workers.

Roger Peacock, First Assistant Secretary to the Australian Department of Employment, Education and Training on foreign affairs, said Australia would benefit from the cooperation schemes.

"Australian investors will not become reluctant to invest in Indonesia if skilled human resources are available there," he said.

Australia and Indonesia face challenges in endowing their workforces with the skills needed to meet the rapidly changing demands of their economies.

"The bilateral cooperation is expected to help both countries meet these challenges and forge stronger ties," he said.

Margaret Pearcer, labor attache of the Australian embassy, said Australia and Indonesia will jointly host a seminar here tomorrow to link and match education and training for industry.

The meeting will be attended by Crean, Latief and Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, and will feature experts and intellectuals from both countries. (rms)