Government Partners with Petrochemical Industry to Produce Skilled Workers
May 10, 2021JAKARTA – Indonesia’s petrochemical industry is one of few sectors which will receive priority development measures from the government to improve its competitiveness. One way to do so is to improve the quality and quantity of the industry’s human resources.
The Industry Ministry’s (Kemenperin) Head of Industry Human Resource Development Arus Gunawan said that there needs to be more investment coming into the industry to accelerate its growth and improve the quality of their workers.
“A more competent workforce will help the industry become more productive and innovative,” he said in a written statement on Sunday (11/4).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the petrochemical industry managed to maintain positive growth due to its ability to substitute imports. The industry’s utilization rate during this period managed to reach 95%.
To further optimize performance, Arus explains that the ministry has forged a partnership with PT Petrokimia Gresik to introduce a training program that issues certifications which are on par with D1 diplomas.
“This training program is run by Politeknik APP Jakarta and Politeknik ATI Makassar, who are both vocational centers operating under the Kemenperin’s Industry Human Resources Development sector (BPSDMI),” Arus explained.
The program will be tailor made to the skill requirements of PT Petrokimia Gresik.
The results of the program have borne fruit since the Kemenperin is now preparing to graduate 194 students on Thursday (8/4), graduating from various programs such as logistics management, industrial chemical engineering and machinery management.
“These graduates are solid proof of the Kemenperin’s commitment to help produce competent and skilled workers for the industrial sector,” Arus said. As of 2020, the Kemenperin has held 18 D1-equivalent classes for 607 participants from 10 provinces and 12 regencies and cities.
Meanwhile, PT Petrokimia Gresik’s President Director Dwi Satriyo Annurogo explained that the graduates of the machinery management, chemical engineering and logistics management programs were taught using the specific curriculums designed by the company in order to fit the skill needs of the industry itself and help guarantee the graduates more immediate work after completing their programs.
Several digital training platforms were provided by Petrokimia Gresik for this program, including virtual reality, augmented reality, a 360° plant tour and enterprise university units, all of which can be accessed through a special app.
“Also, the use of specific digital platforms from Politeknik APP Jakarta and Politeknik ATI Makassar themselves also helped smooth class interactions between students and teachers,” Dwi said.
Iken Retnowulan, the Head of the Kemenperin’s Vocational Education Development Department, added that dual vocational systems, additional certification from the National Profession Standardization Agency (BNSP) and work placement programs are also used within this program to ensure the experience and quality of future industry workers.
“These are all typical educational systems commonly used throughout vocational institutions run by the Kemenperin, whom all place an emphasis on industry needs and are demand driven,” he explained.
In the pursuit of digital advancement, Politeknik APP Jakarta and Politeknik ATI Makassar are developing a specific Industry 4.0-related curriculum that will help increase their contribution in providing competitive and skilled workers, especially those who have mastered 4.0-level logistical technology and manufacturing technology skills.
“Going forward, the Kemenperin will continue to encourage the participation of BUMNs and other industrial entities to hold this training program, especially considering that the government will provide super tax deduction facilities for industries willing to help contribute to producing skilled workers in Indonesia,” Iken said.
“Doing so will also reduce the need to use funds from the state budget to hold such training programs,” he added.
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