Training program for jobless youths
Training program for jobless youths
JAKARTA (JP): The government, anxious over the growing rate of
unemployment, particularly among university graduates, is
introducing an entrepreneurial training program for educated
youths without employment.
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief said in a seminar yesterday
that the new program is aimed at training jobless high school and
college graduates to become professional entrepreneurs.
"Young businessmen will hopefully be able to build small and
medium-scale companies employing as many workers as possible," he
said addressing a seminar on entrepreneurship organized by the
National Committee for Indonesian Youths (KNPI).
The minister said the government would introduce the
entrepreneurship program to high schools and universities and
wait for students feedback.
In addition to recent graduates, the government is also
encouraging those who have long been unemployed to join the
training program. However, only those who are truly talented will
be admitted, he said.
"Admission of participants will be very selective," he added.
The ministry, in cooperation with several state universities
and businessmen, has designed a several curriculums: one for this
program, one for vocational training centers and another for
industrial apprenticeships.
According to Latief, the government will provide financial
assistance to successful participants for starting up their
businesses.
"The money comes from the state budget, profits from state-
owned companies and private large-scale enterprises," he said.
The program has been tried out in Bali where several alumni
have set up companies that are now growing and employing many
people, he said.
Latief warned that worsening unemployment could be a time bomb
and that it should be diffused properly before erupting into
serious social problem.
He calculated that the number of university graduates
increases by an average of 113,000 each year over the last ten
years but that only 30 to 40 percent of them had been employed.
Common
It is now common in Jakarta to find taxi drivers who have
university diploma and house servants who possess high school
diplomas. With the job market getting tighter all the time, these
educated youths are turning to jobs that in the past had gone to
those with lesser educational background.
Latief said during the current sixth Five Year Plan Repelita
VI, the number of people in the work force would increase by 12.7
million from 87 million at the present. With economic growth
estimated at 6.2 percent a year, the number of job opportunities
created in the same period is estimated to reach only 11.9
million.
Latief, also former chairman of KNPI, called on youths to play
a role as agents of change in nation building. "History has
proven that young people have played a pivotal role in building
our nation," he said.
He said many youths nowadays wanted to be rich without working
hard.
"Do not hesitate to ask me how it is that I have become rich,"
he said referring to the years of hard work he has put in over
the years.
Latief is known as one of Indonesia's most successful
businessmen. He founded the Sarinah Jaya business empire which
was built based on the strength of its retailing industry. His
success landed him the cabinet post. (rms)