"In a meeting just now China has offered cooperation for the two countries to conduct joint manpower training in various fields. We certainly could use it for increasing the skills and expertise of the job seekers to increase their acceptance in the markets," acting secretary general of the ministry of manpower Muchtar Luthfie said after on behalf of Manpower Minister Muhaimin Iskandar meeting with visiting Chinese vice minister of resources and social security Yuan Yanpeng here on Monday.
He said the two countries agreed to conduct cooperation in instructural skill training, training for participants in Asian Skill Competition (ASC) and introduction to new vocational training equipment.
The two countries also agreed to exchange information and conduct discussion on manpower legislation, manpower social security, expansion of employment opportunities, system of manpower supervision and development of conducive industrial relations.
Muchtar said Manpower Minister Muhaimin Iskandar hailed the bilateral meeting which could be used for comparison purposes and exchange of information to improve manpower system in Indonesia.
He said to follow it up Indonesia would immediately conduct cooperation to train instructors for the Vocational Training Centers especially for industrial and manufacturing sectors.
He said the Indonesian government was currently working to improve the country`s system of national vocational training by reviving the vocational training centers spreading across the country to open more opportunities for school leavers and university graduates.
Based on the National Statistics Agency data of August 2010 of the country`s 8.32 million unemployed 2.07 millions are elementary school leavers, 1.53 million junior high, 1.89 million senior high, 1.05 senior high vocational school leavers and 0.38 million diploma program and 0.63 million university graduates.
He said one of the manpower problems being faced was that the system of education was not yet linked and matched with manpower markets so that only a limited number of university graduates could immediately work. This will be improved, he said.
He also said the Indonesian government hailed the Chinese offer and hoped with the cooperation more competent, productive and competitive manpower could be produced.
Yuan Yanpeng meanwhile said his visit was aimed at exchanging information and experience to increase cooperation in human resources development to reduce unemployment in villages and improve social security.
"We wish to exchange information and offer cooperation in manpower training and human resources development through training and seminars. We also wish to learn more about the system of social security for workers especially in the informal sector in Indonesia," he said.
He said he also wished to learn about the structure of supervision of manpower and the pattern of industrial relations in Indonesia which has successfully avoided mass lay-offs during economic crisis several years ago.
(T.A043/H-YH/HAJM/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
