Kadin expands industrial apprenticeship program
Kadin expands industrial apprenticeship program
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Kadin) has agreed to expand its industrial apprenticeship
program, previously restricted to students of formal schools, to
people who attend short courses as well.
The agreement was signed on Monday between the Director for
Non-formal Education, Youths and Sports Slamet Rahardjo and
Kadin's director for human resource development Laurence A.
Manullang.
Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, whose
idea it was to launch the apprenticeship program this year, was
present at the signing as was Kadin Chairman Aburizal Bakrie.
The ministry also supervises the activities of informal
education institutions which provide education largely for those
who drop out of school, mostly for financial reasons. With the
signing of the memorandum of understanding, the apprenticeship
program is now also open to them.
Kadin has so far enlisted the support of around 6,000
companies to provide apprenticeships.
Wardiman pointed out that the number could be much higher
given that currently around 140,000 companies are registered in
Indonesia.
He said the industrial community in Indonesia has a social
responsibility to ensure that the country's labor force is
trained and has the opportunity to improve their skills.
He said about 70 percent of the 80 million strong labor force
have only an elementary education background, with many not
having completed the six year period.
The apprenticeship program initially was only opened to
students of high technical schools. Now students attending short
term courses will have equal access.
Some 20,000 colleges provide short term courses of between two
weeks to six months across Indonesia and produce about 500,000
graduates each year.
The most popular courses offered include foreign languages,
computers, office management, car driving, machinery, secretarial
and business management.
Wardiman asked Kadin to encourage more of its members to open
their doors to young apprentices.
The government is currently drafting legislation that will
compel companies to accept the apprenticeship program.
Aburizal said that the government should offer more fiscal and
monetary incentives for companies which join the apprenticeship
program.
"No companies will refuse the program if they are given
concrete incentives," he said. "For example if a company spends
Rp 100 on an apprentice, it should be given Rp 150 as a tax write
off." (rms)