Perprindo Holds First Competency Test for Refrigeration Technicians to Expand Certification Access
JAKARTA — The Indonesian Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Companies Association (Perprindo), through its Refrigeration Engineering Professional Certification Institute (LSP Teknik Pendingin Perprindo), held its first competency assessment for air-conditioning and refrigeration technicians in Jakarta on Thursday (29 October 2026). The initiative aims to broaden access to certification and promote standardised technician skills in line with industry needs.
Perprindo chairman Budi Mulia said the assessment was part of the association’s support for the government’s efforts to extend workforce competency standards in air conditioning and refrigeration.
“This competency assessment is a practical step in our contribution to the government’s efforts to accelerate and expand the standardisation of skills among air-conditioning and refrigeration technicians in Indonesia,” Budi said.
The need for skilled technicians is growing as air-conditioning and refrigeration systems become more widespread. Cooling technology is used not only in homes but also in commercial sectors, food supply chains and infrastructure such as data centres. However, ensuring an even distribution of technicians with standardised skills and certification remains a challenge.
LSP Teknik Pendingin Perprindo offers five certification schemes. In air conditioning, these cover residential AC maintenance technicians, residential AC technicians, and commercial air-conditioning and VRF system technicians. In refrigeration, the schemes cover domestic refrigeration technicians and commercial and industrial refrigeration technicians working with F-gases.
National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP) head Syamsi Hari said he hoped the institute would strengthen collaboration between ministries and associations, widen workers’ access to certification, and support the development of skills that can be tested and measured.
Andri Susila, director of vocational training institutions at the Ministry of Manpower, stressed the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to ensure certification reflects workers’ expertise and proficiency against established standards. Objective, professional and integrity-based certification is expected to support productivity and give more workers access to formal recognition of their skills.
Technician competence is also linked to environmental issues. Haruki Agustina, director of climate change mitigation at the Ministry of Environment, said responsible management of cooling systems, including handling refrigerants in accordance with regulations, forms part of efforts to support Indonesia’s target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2060.
DAIKIN’s National Training Centre served as the competency assessment venue. Shinji Miyata, president director of PT Daikin Airconditioning Indonesia, said the company supported technician development and was open to exploring broader collaboration.
Budi said he hoped cooperation between associations, the government and industry would continue to grow so that certification and skills development could reach more technicians across Indonesia. This, he said, would help workers in air conditioning and refrigeration keep pace with technological developments and the need for more sustainable cooling practices.