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