RI workers 'can't compete' overseas

RI workers 'can't compete' overseas

JAKARTA: Indonesia is unable to compete with neighboring
countries, including the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, to
fill about 6,000 job opportunities, mostly domestic helpers and
other positions, abroad annually, an official said.

Secretary-general of the Ministry of Manpower and
Transmigration Joko Sidik Pramono said on Wednesday the inability
to compete was ironic as at the same time the number of employed
at home reached at least 38 million.

Joko said that the inability to fill the job vacancies was
caused mainly by the lack of effective job training in the
country.

Joko said this condition was worsened by the fact that 70
percent of the Indonesian workforce consisted of elementary
school graduates lacking skills.

There have been no clear measures taken to resolve the
unemployment problem, including how to improve their skills.

Besides domestic positions, there is also a large demand for
nurses, but again Indonesia is far from meeting the basic
requirements, Joko said. -- Antara