Indonesia stresses workforce skills development at ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting
The Indonesian Government, through the Ministry of Manpower, has stressed the importance of improving human resource skills at the ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Director General of Industrial Relations and Labour Social Security Development at the Ministry of Manpower, Indah Anggoro Putri, said the move is part of Indonesia’s commitment to implementing the ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening the Competitiveness, Resilience and Agility of Workers for the Future of Work.
“Indonesia remains committed to translating the Declaration’s objectives into practical and mutually reinforcing steps to ensure no worker is left behind amid changes in the world of work,” Indah said in a statement received in Jakarta on Monday.
One such step is being taken through skills development. The National Internship Programme is targeted to reach 150,000 participants, complementing the first phase which has already reached 100,000 recent university graduates with an employment absorption rate of 30 percent.
Furthermore, the National Vocational Training Programme is also targeted to reach 300,000 participants.
Indonesia is also modernising its integrated labour market information system to strengthen the link between training and industry needs.
In the field of occupational safety and health, Indonesia is adopting digital technology and the Internet of Things for labour inspection as well as online-based occupational safety and health compliance services.
In the field of social protection, Indonesia is strengthening the worker safety net through the expansion of the Job Loss Insurance coverage, which includes cash benefits, training and job placement.
“These efforts also include the operation of the Layoff Task Force as well as social security contribution incentives for labour-intensive and informal sectors,” Indah said.
On the aspect of inclusiveness, Indonesia is promoting fair employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, women, youth and older workers.
Strengthening industrial relations is being carried out through more than 12,830 Bipartite Cooperation Institutions at the company level as well as Tripartite Cooperation Institutions in 34 provinces and 398 regencies/cities, in line with the principles of ILO Convention No. 144.
At the regional level, Indonesia is also taking part in a number of concrete agendas. Indonesia is leading the implementation of the ASEAN Guiding Principles Phase 3 to encourage the harmonisation of competency certification systems in five ASEAN member countries, with an initial focus on the construction and electrical sectors.
In addition, Indonesia is also preparing a Knowledge Sharing on Unemployment Insurance project involving eight ASEAN member countries and is active in regional labour productivity studies.
“Through these steps, Indonesia affirms that regional competitiveness must always go hand in hand with resilience, inclusiveness, social protection and the fulfilment of workers’ basic rights,” Indah said.