“We are grateful that the poverty rate has dropped to 8.47 percent. Experts told me this is the lowest in the republic’s history. Let’s celebrate this achievement without being complacent,” Prabowo said in his opening remarks at a plenary cabinet meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday.
He also noted that open unemployment had declined to around 4.67 percent, the lowest level since the 1998 financial crisis.
Despite the improvement, Prabowo cautioned that the figure still represents millions of Indonesians struggling to find work.
“We know unemployment is deeply troubling for those affected. That’s why we continue to work hard to create jobs and strengthen resilience against this global challenge,” he said.
The president urged his ministers not to become complacent, calling for stronger efforts to expand job opportunities and foster an environment conducive to workforce absorption amid changing global dynamics.
He pointed to the rise of artificial intelligence and automation as factors reducing employment opportunities worldwide, citing Germany’s auto industry as an example where thousands lost their jobs to robotic manufacturing.
“This is the kind of challenge we must anticipate and address,” Prabowo said, underscoring the need for innovation and adaptability in Indonesia’s labor policies.
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Translator: Fathur R, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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