United States Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), Michael F. Kleine, has congratulated Indonesia for its recent achievements in creating a more inclusive workforce comprising vulnerable groups such as young people, people with disabilities, and women.
The congratulatory statement was delivered by US DCM Kleine during a national conference on labor, which was jointly hosted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower, as noted in a release issued by the US Embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday.
“Inclusivity is the mandate of the constitution. The government works hand-in-hand with many stakeholders to create an inclusive workforce and supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs,” Manpower Minister Ida Fauziah said. “One of the things needed to improve is the access to skills training and other opportunities for vulnerable groups such as young people, women, and persons with disabilities, so they can find meaningful employment,” she added.
While Indonesia’s national economy has grown over the past two decades, the development has not been evenly distributed for all members of society, she noted.
Therefore, the United States Government, through USAID, has strived to help improve employment conditions for poor and marginalized groups in Indonesia, she added.
“The United States government is committed to helping Indonesia strengthen its human capital and increase workforce productivity. For the last five years, USAID partnered with the Ministry of Manpower to equip vulnerable and low-income youth with the skills and resources they need to reach their full potential and contribute to Indonesia’s economy. With the new skills and resources, they are ready to compete in the 21st century job market,” Kleine remarked.
Obtaining a job is an important life event and helps individuals become active contributors to the economy, he added.
However, this process is difficult for people with disabilities, youth, and women due to discrimination, he said.
To address these market entry barriers, the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower has partnered with USAID to improve the skills of job seekers and increase internship opportunities through vocational training centers, he added.
USAID had invested to create job-matching platforms to connect employers and job seekers, he noted.
To date, 425 instructors from 234 vocational training centers across Java have utilized platforms funded by USAID, he informed.
Beyond expanding employment opportunities, USAID, through the Mitra Kunci program, also helped promote gender and social inclusion in alignment with national laws, Kleine said.
To date, over 1,200 Indonesian companies have participated in the workforce development training funded by the US government, including 644 companies under the Mitra Kunci program in collaboration with the Indonesian Employers’ Association (APINDO), he added.
More than 44,000 women and 300 employees with disabilities have benefited from those opportunities, he said.
“I would like to thank the US government for their partnership with the government of Indonesia on inclusive economic development. I would also like to thank other parties involved and hope that this synergy carries on,” Minister Fauziah said.
With the Mitra Kunci program ending, the US government will continue supporting Indonesia’s priorities to increase workforce productivity and inclusion, she added. USAID will continue to build the capacity of higher education and skills training institutions in aligning their activities with business needs, she said.
USAID Mitra Kunci is one of the US government’s inclusive economic growth initiatives in Indonesia, which demonstrates the breadth of engagement under the US-Indonesia strategic partnership, the minister noted.
Source: Antara News