Coordinating Minister Airlangga: Young Generation Has The Potential To Create Jobs

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto emphasized that the young generation has high potential to be able to create sustainable and inclusive jobs.

The younger generation is also expected to be able to optimize its important role in determining the future of the nation.

This was conveyed by Airlangga when giving a virtual keynote speech at the Y20 Summit of the G20 Indonesia Presidency: Closing Ceremony, Friday, July 22.

"I also want to underline that the younger generation has an important role in creating their own jobs and through active participation in the political process," said Airlangga, quoted on Saturday, July 23.

Airlangga said, Indonesia is projected to experience a demographic bonus of up to 64 percent of the total productive population in 2030.

With the demographic bonus, the representation of the younger generation from various backgrounds is considered important to advocate for thoughts and innovations to encourage the progress of various potential sectors.

Considering the important role of the young generation, said Airlangga, the government needs to prepare policy facilities that are able to support the development of the younger generation.

As the G20 Presidency, Indonesia seeks to facilitate opportunities for the younger generation to become important actors in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

This effort was accommodated by the government in the Youth Forum 20 (Y20) which raised four main focuses consisting of youth employment, digital transformation, a sustainable and livable planet, and diversity and inclusion.

"I welcome the Y20 communique with four areas that the Y20 Indonesia committee focuses on as issues that have a significant impact on young people around the world," he said.

In addition to raising these four important issues, Y20 Indonesia has also become a milestone in facilitating the representation of various under-represented communities, persons with disabilities, and local communities as official observers in Y20 Indonesia.

The diversity of representation is intended to accommodate the various voices and interests of minority, marginalized, and historically constrained groups.

Airlangga said, other support was also provided by the government to prepare the younger generation to enter industry 4.0 by allocating IDR 373 trillion for business financing assistance through the People's Business Credit (KUR) and simplifying the requirements for accessing the KUR financing assistance.

In addition, the government has also prepared a Pre-Employment Card Program that provides access and financing for the younger generation in upskilling and reskilling, so that it is expected to be able to increase competitive competitiveness in the world of work.

To date, the Pre-Employment Card Program has reached up to 12.8 million recipients, which are dominated by the younger generation.

In addition to the support of the younger generation, said Airlangga, the government also provides facilities for industry players who contribute to developing vocational education and support the creation of new entrepreneurs through the provision of Super Tax Deduction incentives of up to 200 percent.

With the provision of these incentives, industrial players obtain tax savings from a maximum gross income reduction of 200 percent on expenditures for work practices, apprenticeships, and/or learning activities.

The government, continued Airlangga, also provided Job Training Center facilities that were established throughout Indonesia to provide vocational training to prospective workers in accordance with industry needs.

The government also provides a stimulant training program that is carried out by cooperating with technology companies and universities to increase the digital talent of prospective workers.