Productivity key to strengthening RI\’s industry competitiveness: govt

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Manpower Minister Yassierli emphasized that improving productivity is the key to strengthening Indonesia’s industrial competitiveness, noting that in the past six to seven years, the nation’s labor productivity has remained about 10 percent below the ASEAN average.Speaking at the kickoff of Productivity Improvement Week in Jakarta on Monday, Yassierli said average labor productivity among ASEAN countries stands at around US$30,200 per worker, while Indonesia’s figure is about US$28,600.He underscored the need for breakthroughs to close the gap and help Indonesia compete with countries such as China, Vietnam, and India.“Productivity is a fundamental strategy to enhance product quality, process efficiency, and company competitiveness,” he said.“It can be achieved through the 4P approach — people, product, process, and policy — which our industries urgently need today,” he added.Yassierli noted that Indonesia currently has a workforce of 153.05 million people, most of whom have only primary or secondary education. Of that number, around 39 percent are employed in the formal sector and 56 percent in the informal sector.He stressed the importance of skilling, upskilling, and reskilling programs to ensure workers remain relevant amid rapid technological disruption, artificial intelligence, and the growing demand for green jobs.Addressing these challenges, Yassierli said the government has launched several strategic programs to boost national productivity. These include international cooperation through the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), the annual Indonesian Productivity Summit, and the establishment of productivity centers and clinics at universities and vocational institutions.The government has also prepared 200 APO-certified productivity specialists and 500 productivity experts to strengthen human resource capacity. Other initiatives include updating vocational training curricula and developing Talent and Innovation Hubs as centers for skill and innovation growth.To further promote productivity, the government provides digital learning tools such as podcasts, pocket guides, and a productivity calculator to make knowledge and best practices more accessible to workers and industries.