Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli has emphasized the importance of increasing labor productivity in preparation for Indonesia’s demographic bonus.

“Labor productivity has a significant impact on national economic growth,” the minister said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Furthermore, Yassierli stated that the demographic bonus will only add value to the Indonesian nation if it is supported by a workforce that is both qualified and productive.

He also noted that improving productivity remains a key challenge that must be addressed collectively.

“Everyone understands the direction of policies and the necessary steps, but the key to success lies in effective and sustainable implementation,” he added.

The minister pointed out that the challenge of enhancing productivity is closely linked to the structure of Indonesia’s workforce.

Approximately 85 percent of workers have a maximum education level of senior high school or vocational high school, and about 60 percent are employed in the informal sector.

Therefore, labor policies need to be formulated with these realities in mind to ensure greater accuracy and effectiveness.

At the intermediate level, particularly in the industrial and labor sectors, the Ministry of Manpower is taking concrete steps to support national productivity improvements, including strengthening the capacity of human resources focused on productivity.

Currently, the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) has around 200 Productivity Specialists, while the Ministry plans to certify 500 Productivity Experts this year under the Indonesian National Work Competency Standards (SKKNI).

Looking ahead, Yassierli affirmed that the ministry is reviewing the alignment of these two schemes to enable mutual support.

“We aim for these productivity experts to become champions next year, driving change across various companies, similar to what has been done in countries like Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand,” he said.

In addition, Yassierli stated that the Ministry is also developing Talent and Innovation Hubs within vocational training centers to serve as centers for competency development based on productivity.

Training programs are designed to produce certified workers capable of enhancing company performance and competitiveness.

As part of efforts to build a productive culture, the Ministry is preparing various enablers, such as productivity-themed podcasts, to broaden awareness, mindset, and productive practices among workers and businesses.

“We want to build a productive Indonesia, which means we must also focus on the human aspect. People, process, product, and policy — these are the 4 P that must be our concern,” Yassierli concluded.

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