Indonesia, Australia forge ties in manpower sector

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)