Important, the role of the trade unions in job creation

Trade union representatives from major trade union Confederations represented at the National Tripartite Cooperation gathered in Jakarta to discussed and examined ways for the trade unions to be the influencing agents and to be actively participated in the policy developments on job creation and promotion in Indonesia.

Facilitated by the ILO in September, the event titled “The Role of Trade Unions in Job Creation in Indonesia” was part of the joint efforts to strengthen the roles of trade unions in promoting decent work for all Indonesian people.

It is important for the trade unions to be involved in the policy discussion and development on employment. We need to make sure that all the changes in the world of work would protect the welfare of the workers."

Muhamad Hakim, Chair of Trade Union Task Force on Job Creation

The participating unionists discussed and examined important employment issues that were crucial for ensuring the readiness of Indonesian workers in facing fast changes in the world of work due to the technology advancement, globalization, climate changes and so forth. The main three employment issues discussed included issues on public employment service, vocational training and formal apprenticeship.

Muhamad Hakim, Chair of Trade Union Task Force on Job Creation, said that the three issues above were the main priorities of the Task Force. “It is important for the trade unions to be involved in the policy discussion and development on employment. We need to make sure that all the changes in the world of work would not harm the welfare of the workers,” he said.

Emphasizing the important role of trade unions as one of the key labour actors, Kazutoshi Chatani, the ILO’s Employment Specialist, said that “Indonesia has good economic potentials. Therefore, it is important for the trade unions to have their voices and aspirations integrated in the employment policy. Trade unions should be active in influencing the employment policy.”

Providing the latest employment development in the country, three resource persons from relevant governmental institutions shared the latest governmental initiatives and programmes: the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) and the Ministry of Manpower.

It is important for the trade unions to have their voices and aspirations integrated in the employment policy. Trade unions should be active in influencing the employment policy."

Kazutoshi Chatani, the ILO’s Employment Specialist

Yulius, Deputy Assistant for Employment of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, explained about the efforts taken by the Coordinating Ministry to revitalize the vocational education and training, aimed to improve and strengthen skills of Indonesian workers. “We have developed a road map on this, including the improvement of vocational curriculum, accreditation, certification, facilities and funding,” he explained.

Mahatmi P. Surento, Director of Employment of Bappenas, highlighted the impact of technological advancement to the world of work. She reminded the participants about some jobs that would be lost and some new jobs that would be created. “More than 50 million jobs would be lost; while 3.7 million new jobs will be created. We cannot deny the impact of the technology to employment; thus, government has developed a vision for Indonesia by 2045,” she said.

Meanwhile, Surya Lukita from the Training and Productivity Directorate of the Ministry of Manpower, presented the grand design on vocational training under the Ministry of Manpower. “This grand design is targeted to both new job seekers and working poor by reducing skills mismatch and by upgrading workers' skills so that they will be more competitive," he stated.

The event was concluded with the development of the union’s positioned paper on employment. “This positioned paper will be shared with relevant stakeholders. We plan to visit relevant institutions to present and discuss this paper,” Hakim said.