ILO team up with Vocational Center of BBPLK-Bekasi to increase women labour participation in STEM-related fields

The Vocational Training Development Centre (BBPLK) Bekasi and ILO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Batam Island of Indonesia on 24 January 2019. The MoU emphasized the collaboration of the BBPLK-Bekasi and ILO to increase the women labour participation rate in the fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by providing courses on information, communications and technology (ICT) for pre-employed female youth.

The MoU was signed by Head of BBPLK-Bekasi, Helmiaty Basri and Country Director of the ILO for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Michiko Miyamoto, acknowledged by Director General of Training Development and Productivity of Ministry of Manpower, Bambang Satrio Lelono. The signing ceremony was conducted as part of the Technical Coordination Meeting of BBPLK Bekasi and its mentored BLKs from three provinces (West Java, Bengkulu and South Kalimantan).

The industry 4.0 is all about how men, machines and data connect to one another. Developments like this have created new types of jobs that need new skills that help workers to stay relevant and employable. Thus, vocational training should be more adaptive and innovative. In the same time, vocational training providers should be able to identify skills that are needed in the future jobs."

Bambang Satrio Lelono, Director General of Training Development and Productivity of Ministry of Manpower

The MoU underlines the collaboration between BBPLK-Bekasi and the ILO to deliver female-only ICT courses for 415 female youth from February to December 2019. The 415 targeted youth will be trained in 26 classes. The recruitment will be carried out by the ILO, in coordination with BBPLK-Bekasi. Promotional and communications materials have been developed to attract female youth to register in this programme.

The training sessions will utilize the curriculum of BBPLK-Bekasi, which is strengthened with linkages to and activities with private sector by the ILO. BBPLK-Bekasi is appointed by the Government of Indonesia as the vocational training centre for ICT courses, along with electronic, refrigerator and hospitality courses.

Highlighting the importance of building skilled workers toward Industry 4.0, particularly women workers, Director General Bambang emphasized the importance of STEM-related fields in a rapidly changing world of work and the urgent needs for Indonesian workers, particularly women workers to adapt in this fast changing work environment.

The ILO is implementing Women in STEM Workforce Readiness & Development Project, seeking to strengthen linkages between private sector firms, social partner institutions and vocational training centres."

Michiko Miyamoto, Country Director of the ILO for Indonesia and Timor-Leste

“The industry 4.0 is all about how men, machines and data connect to one another. Developments like this have created new types of jobs that need new skills that help workers to stay relevant and employable. Thus, vocational training should be more adaptive and innovative. In the same time, vocational training providers should be able to identify skills that are needed in the future jobs,” he stated in his opening remarks.

Meanwhile Michiko Miyamoto explained about the commitment of the ILO to support greater involvement of women workers in the STEM-related fields. It was in line with the estimation of the ILO that 56 percent of employment in Indonesia face a risk of automation. “The ILO is implementing Women in STEM Workforce Readiness & Development Project, seeking to strengthen linkages between private sector firms, social partner institutions and vocational training centres,” she stated.

Funded by J. P. Morgan Chase Foundation, the ILO’s STEM project is implemented in three ASEAN countries: Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. In Indonesia, the Project is implemented in automotive and ICT sectors, which are identified as a high-growth sectors and present significant skills gap but also opportunities for growth.

To date, the Project has completed a workshop on creating female-friendly training centres for BBPLK management and instructors and rapid assessment of ICT skills demand in Indonesia. Report of the rapid assessment is going to be published in the mid of February, as part of celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science which falls on 11 February 2019.