The pandemic has forced us to make various adjustments to overcome the tough challenges of maintaining productivity
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has urged local governments and business actors to continue to increase productivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The pandemic has forced us to make various adjustments to overcome the tough challenges of maintaining productivity," he remarked at the 2021 Paramakarya award ceremony in Jakarta on Thursday.

According to Amin, not all companies have been able to overcome the challenges to maintaining their productivity. However, some companies have been able to adapt to the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted.

"Although not many companies have succeeded in overcoming the challenges, we should be grateful because productivity has still been maintained by some companies that were adaptive, agile, and able to adapt to changes," he remarked.

Companies that succeeded in remaining productive were supported by their ability to manage time, human resources, and technology amidst the implementation of the activity restrictions policy, he said.

"The pandemic made us aware that collaboration and cooperation will determine our success in achieving our goals, including in terms of increasing productivity," he added.

Therefore, the Vice President said he expected all business actors to adapt and remain productive by increasing collaboration and synergy with the government.

"Working remotely does not mean stopping collaboration. Amid limitations, we are encouraged to be more creative in collaborating to come up with fresh and innovative ideas," he noted.

According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the GDP (gross domestic product) productivity ratio per resident decreased from Rp85.05 million in 2019 to Rp83.47 million in 2020.

Even so, Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah pointed out that productivity levels have increased in the past decade.

She expressed the hope that the productivity ratio in 2021 will increase again as the health and economic sectors recover.

To boost labor productivity, it is necessary to support the pillars of labor development, such as expanding job opportunities and social security for workers, the minister said.

"It must be supported by expanding job opportunities, creating a harmonious and productive industrial relations climate, reforming labor inspections, and increasing labor social security participation as a form of protection for workers," she affirmed.

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Translator: Fransiska, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Sri Haryati
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