Kang Asmul: Employment Programmes Must Have Real Impact for Bandung Residents

Bandung DPRD Chairman Asep Mulyadi has expressed support for various employment programmes run by the Bandung City Government through the Manpower Office (Disnaker), particularly job fairs that are considered capable of matching the needs of the business world with job seekers. The support was conveyed by Asep while attending the Future Connect 2026 Job Fair for the Central Bandung Region held at the Bandung Sports Hall on Thursday (18/6/2026). According to Kang Asmul, the familiar nickname for Asep Mulyadi, unemployment remains one of the main development challenges in Bandung City. Therefore, synergy is needed between the government, the business world, educational institutions, and the community to expand job opportunities. He appreciated the steps taken by the Bandung City Manpower Office, which consistently holds job fair activities in various areas as an effort to broaden public access to information and job opportunities. “This is a form of the government’s presence in providing solutions to public anxiety while answering the needs of companies looking for workers,” said Asep. He likened the job fair to a meeting space between two parties who need each other. On one side, companies need competent human resources, while on the other side, the community needs decent work. Nevertheless, Asep stressed that the success of an employment programme cannot be measured solely by the number of attendees. What is more important is the extent to which the programme is able to reduce the unemployment rate and increase labour absorption. As an example, he cited the previous job fair in the Teras Cibiru area, which was attended by around 1,500 job seekers. Of that number, 435 participants were reported to have successfully entered the workforce through participating companies. “The most important thing is not just the event, but how much impact it has on reducing the open unemployment rate in Bandung City,” he said. Currently, the open unemployment rate in Bandung City is still around 7.22 percent. According to Asep, this figure must continue to be suppressed through programmes that are measurable, sustainable, and able to answer the needs of the labour market. Therefore, the Bandung City DPRD is ready to provide support for strengthening employment programmes if they are proven to deliver real results. This support can take the form of policy strengthening or budget allocations for programmes such as job fairs, vocational training, apprenticeships, and job placements. “We will continue to coordinate and evaluate. If these programmes are effective in reducing the unemployment rate, we will certainly support their enhancement,” he said. Asep also reminded job seekers to make the best possible use of the available opportunities. In addition to improving competence, job seekers also need to maintain discipline, work ethic, and loyalty once they are accepted for employment. He hopes that the collaboration continuously built between the government, the business world, educational institutions, and the community can deliver a real impact on improving residents’ welfare while strengthening Bandung City’s competitiveness in the future.