Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian Minister of Manpower Yassierli has underscored the critical need for robust skills development, expanded job opportunities, and stronger labor protections as rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) reshape the global workforce.Speaking at the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva on Monday, Yassierli stressed that technological shifts must not leave workers behind.“For this reason, Indonesia is building skills, expanding job opportunities, and bolstering worker protections to ensure our people retain a future of decent work,” Yassierli said in a statement released Tuesday.The minister noted that the issue has become urgent as workplace automation begins to fundamentally alter how people work, seek employment, and sustain themselves in the shifting labor market.Under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, Yassierli said, Indonesia is prioritizing future-ready skills for its workforce. Key initiatives include the National Internship Program, which provides university graduates with six months of on-the-job experience backed by government allowances.The internship program reached 100,000 participants last year, with the government targeting an expansion to 150,000 participants this year. Additionally, the state-run National Vocational Training Program aims to equip 300,000 high school graduates with technical skills.“These programs also provide equal opportunities for women, people with disabilities, as well as residents in remote and border areas,” Yassierli affirmed.However, the minister emphasized that skill enhancement must go hand in hand with aggressive job creation, while keeping worker protection at the core of the country's decent work agenda.As evidence of this commitment, Yassierli pointed to Indonesia's recent ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention No. 188, which guarantees occupational health, safety, and decent working conditions for fishers.He also highlighted legislative progress in drafting national protection policies for digital platform and gig-economy workers.Closing his address, Yassierli expressed Indonesia's readiness to collaborate with the ILO and international partners to develop specialized vocational curricula, establish training centers for people with disabilities, and support displaced or marginalized workers.He also reaffirmed Indonesia's solidarity with the Palestinian people within the context of global social justice, noting that Jakarta continues to back the ILO Emergency Response Programme to help restore jobs, livelihoods, and labor institutions in Palestine.