The development of information technology based on artificial intelligence (AI) means that many jobs that were previously done by humans were replaced by machines. Responding to this reality, the Indonesian Minister of Manpower, Dr. Hj. Ida Fauziyah, Msi, remains optimistic. Because when a type of job disappears, more new types of work will appear that have not been imagined before. So what should be prepared for the future?

***

The progress of science and technology cannot be stopped. According to Ida Fauziyah, humans must adapt and transform. The key word is change. “If we want to survive, we have to change. For children who are currently at school, don't be afraid to prepare for your future by reading about the changes that are happening today, so that you can welcome a future of glory," she said.

The World Economic Forum (WEF), as reported by CNBC Indonesia, recently released a list of more than 15 jobs that will disappear in the 2023-2027 range. The jobs that are predicted to be lost are bank tellers, postal officers, cashiers and counters, data entry, secretaries and administration, stock-keeping staff, accounting-bookkeeping and payroll staff, legislators and government officials, statistics-insurance and finance staff, door to door sales, street vendors and newspaper sellers, security guards, credit and loan managers, claim investigators and examiners, software testers and relationship managers.

But don't be sad yet, because Ida said, there will be many more new types of work that will emerge. "Indeed, many jobs will be lost, but what is important to note is that new jobs will also emerge which could be opportunities. Between the lost and the new, there are more new ones," stressed Ida.

As the old saying goes, one dies and a thousand grows. There are various types of new jobs that will emerge and will be most sought after in the future. Among others; artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning specialist, sustainability specialist, business intelligence analyst, information systems security analyst, fintech engineer, data and data science analyst, robot engineer, big data specialist, agricultural equipment operator, specialist digital transformation, blockchain developer, ecommerce specialist,  digital strategy and marketing specialist, data engineer, and commercial and industrial designer.

Responding to this reality, said Ida Fauziyah, all parties must be prepared to welcome new types of work that will emerge later. "Our job is to prepare vocational education and training so that we are ready to welcome these new job opportunities. So the competency must be able to face new jobs. We have to be optimistic and believe we can do it, we have to transform," said Ida Fauziyah to Edy Suherli, Bambang Eros, and Dandi Januar from VOI who met her at the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower office, Jakarta recently. Here is the full excerpt.

As Minister of Manpower, what crucial employment issues have you resolved? What does President Jokowi prioritize?

This is my last year assisting President Jokowi, because his term of office will end in October 2024. The priority stated is the development of superior human resources (HR). This issue is crucial because Indonesia will face a number of employment challenges, including the demographic bonus and economic disruption.

In building human resources there are a number of classic employment issues such as competitiveness and the discovery of miss-matches or mismatches between the competencies possessed by educational graduates and the competency needs in the world of work, not yet link and match. And one of the ministries that received this mandate is the Ministry of Manpower.

Therefore, the focus in developing superior human resources is how to prepare human resources through vocational education and vocational training that is in line with developments in the industrial world. The government has issued Presidential Decree Number 68 of 2022 concerning the Revitalization of Vocational Education and Vocational Training as a legal umbrella for the technical regulation of this HR development policy.

We at the Ministry of Manpower have tried to follow up on this mandate by building a Job Market Center, namely a technical unit in the Ministry of Manpower which is tasked with synergizing vocational training with the business and industrial worlds; building the SIAPKerja system, one of whose functions is to bridge vocational training with the business and industrial worlds. We also transformed the BLK under the Ministry of Manpower into a BPVP (Vocational and Productivity Training Center), so that our center not only carries out vocational training and also training to increase productivity.

Can you explain the obstacles you faced when you first started working until now?

In the first year of carrying out our duties, we were all faced with very complicated health problems; The COVID-19 pandemic has not only hit Indonesia but almost all countries in the world. Health matters have an impact on the economy and the economy has an impact on employment. 2020, 2021 and 2022 are crucial years that require extraordinary work.

As our nation is able to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and recover the economy, we can gradually recover from employment issues. At the beginning of the pandemic, our open unemployment rate (TPT) was very high, reaching 7.07 percent. As of August 2023, we will be able to reduce our unemployment rate to 5.32 percent of the total workforce of 147.71 million. It's not the same as before the pandemic, but this is a good achievement.

What other steps will be taken?

One way is by connecting vocational education output with the world of business and industry. The President has issued Presidential Decree No. 68 of 2022 concerning the Revitalization of Vocational Education and Vocational Training, this is a collaboration between the Central Government, Regional Government and the industrial world that vocational education must be in accordance with the existing job market.

One of the problems that most often arises is unemployment. How big is the unemployment rate in Indonesia currently? And what are the efforts to reduce it?

Based on a report from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the number of unemployed people in Indonesia reached 7.86 million people as of August 2023 or equivalent to a TPT of 5.32 percent of the total 147.71 million workforce. The TPT number is indeed high, but if we look at the trend, it continues to decline from the previous year. In 2023: 5.32 percent, 2022: 5.86 percent and 2021: 6.49 percent.

Of the remaining time, what needs to be optimized?

We must work hard and synergize with all parties to increase economic growth, increase investment that can create jobs, develop MSMEs, encourage the informal economy, expand and facilitate access to job market information, expand the job market, and what is no less important is improving the quality of human resources.

People often compare PMIs with foreign workers from the Philippines whose English language skills are better, how can this be overcome?

Each country's workforce has advantages and disadvantages. We will improve what PMI lacks by collaborating with the Vocational Training Center. I encourage you to strengthen your English. We synergize with educational institutions. I am very confident that with the advantages that PMI has, we will be able to compete.

Facing the demographic bonus, what should be anticipated?

This demographic bonus must be optimized so that we can benefit from an abundant labor supply and economic growth. However, on the contrary, if we cannot take advantage of it, we will get the result, including large numbers of young people unemployed, as well as suboptimal economic growth. To anticipate this, what must be a concern for all parties is efforts to prepare a competent and skilled young generation. The Ministry of Manpower has prepared several steps to deal with this demographic bonus, one of which is through the Employment Information and Services System (SIAPKerja) application.

In this application there are the main services in the field of employment owned by the Ministry of Manpower, namely Karirhub (information service for job opportunities and vacancies); Skillhub (competency improvement service through vocational training); Sertihub (competency certification service integrated with BNSP); and Bizhub (a service for expanding job opportunities through entrepreneurship).

Through this ecosystem, we believe we will help the younger generation become competent and skilled. However, we note that building an employment ecosystem that supports the creation of superior human resources is a long-term policy. For this reason, we hope for support from all parties in achieving this ecosystem development.

Economic disruption is considered to affect the employment sector, what is the government preparing?

The challenge of digitalization continues to grow, even just facing the industrial revolution 4.0, we are now facing the Society Era 5.0, namely an era where industry integrates technology and humans, including things related to humans such as culture. On the one hand, Society 5.0 is considered to make relations between people more distant as relationships and socialization between one person and another become easier. However, on the other hand, human relations are also getting easier as a result of technological and information transformation in this era. According to him, this is what society, our younger generation, must grasp in order to build networks to support future development.

As I have said, as a form of adaptation to the Society 5.0 era, we at the Ministry of Manpower have attempted to transform digital-based employment services, including the SIAPKerja system.

Technological advances have resulted in mechanization, robotization and the use of artificial intelligence (AI), meaning that labor will be lost, how to deal with this?

It is true that many workers will be lost, but it is important to note that new jobs will also emerge which could be opportunities. Between the lost and the new, more new. Our job is to prepare vocational education and training so that we are ready to welcome these new job opportunities. So the competency must be able to face new jobs. We must be optimistic and believe we can, we must transform.

What efforts can the Ministry of Manpower take to overcome child labor?

The Ministry of Manpower is committed to eliminating child labor. We have done several things, including increasing understanding through outreach to the business world and the public about the Worst Forms of Child Labor (WFCL). We make efforts to prevent and eliminate child labor from WFCL through various programs including the Child Labor Free Zone Program and the Campaign Against Child Labor. Then implemented the Child Labor Reduction Program and has succeeded in attracting child workers from the workplace. And strengthening the capacity to enforce laws on Child Labor and WFCL norms through expanding education and training. Apart from that, we have also facilitated the declaration of 287 palm oil plantation companies spread across 7 provinces as free from child labor.

Human trafficking often takes the guise of sending PMI abroad, what are the government's efforts to overcome this?

The government has issued Presidential Decree 22 of 2021 concerning Amendments to Presidential Regulation Number 69 of 2008 concerning the Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Human Trafficking Crimes, the Minister of Manpower is a member of the Central Task Force together with 23 Ministers/heads of other institutions. Apart from the Presidential Decree, President Joko Widodo brought the issue of TIP to the ASEAN Summit forum in Labuan Bajo last May 2023, the government is serious and serious in fighting TIP.

So what are the concrete steps to prevent Human Trafficking?

The steps we took were; Firstly, improve the management system for PMI placement and protection which is integrated from the center to the regions with the aim of providing one data on PMI placement and protection. Second, include clauses related to preventing TIP in bilateral cooperation agreements with deployment countries, such as with Malaysia as stated in the JWG (Joint Working Group) Joint Statement signed by the Indonesian Minister of Manpower and the Malaysian Minister of KSM on July 28 2022. Third, form a Protection Task Force PMI in 25 embarkation/disembarkation/origin areas, one of the tasks and functions of the task force is to prevent non-procedural placement of PMI. And fourth, provide strict sanctions in the form of administrative sanctions and the revocation of permits for Indonesian Migrant Worker Placement Companies (P3MI) which are proven to be involved in unprocedural placement of PMIs.

What advice do you have for those who want to work abroad so that we don't hear about cases of torture, unpaid salaries and other sad stories experienced by PMI?

PMI candidates should not be easily persuaded to work abroad because the risks are very high. If you want to work abroad, you should do so using the correct procedures at the Employment Service in each district/city or through the One-Stop Integrated Service (LTSA). Without clear procedures, in accordance with Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PPMI), the government will have difficulty providing protection for PMI in the country of placement.

These Are Ida Fauziyah's Tips For Balancing Physical And Spiritual Health

Her busy life as Minister of Manpower and also a functionary in the National Awakening Party (PKB) and other organizations made Dr. Hj. Ida Fauziyah, Msi must be able to maintain good health. What she does is harmonize physical and spiritual health.

"To be able to carry out the mandate given to me as an assistant to President Jokowi and also the role of the political party to which I belong and other social organizations, I must be supported by physical and spiritual health," said the woman born in Mojokerto, East Java, 17 July 1969.

She didn't do it grandiosely. “To maintain my spiritual health, I start from simple things like trying to always be grateful and patient. Because not everyone can achieve what I have achieved at this point. Then pray and ask Allah SWT for help. And what needs to be underlined is to always communicate with your family, that is the most effective strong medicine," said IAIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya S1 alumni (1993).

In maintaining physical health, apart from maintaining nutritional intake, Ida tries to exercise regularly. “For exercise, I usually use a treadmill or stationary bike at home for about 30 minutes every day. But it can't always be done, sometimes I didn't do it too, hehehe," said Ida, who is continuing her Masters studies in the Department of Government Science, Satyagama University and a Doctoral Degree in Domestic Science at IPDN.

On weekends and free time, she will ride a bike outside the house with her beloved husband and children. “When I can bike it is the most fun. Moreover, I can cycle with my beloved husband and children," she continued.

When asked if she had time to go on holiday, Ida smiled at this question. "When I travel outside the city while working, whether in the capacity of a minister or party functionary, being able to travel freely without being burdened with office and organizational matters is a luxury for me," said the woman who started her career as a MAPK Jombang teacher from 1994 to 1999.

About Culinary

When it comes to food, Ida Fauziyah is not picky. She can enjoy almost everything as long as it is halal and toyyiban (good). “Alhamdulillah, until now Allah has given me health. I can eat almost all types of food, as long as it is halal toyyiban. I can enjoy all food, especially if it has crackers," she said with a smile.

However, because she comes from East Java, what she likes most is of course typical East Javanese culinary delights. “I'm from East Java, so the food I like most is typical food from East Java. I really like rawon, soto, rujak cingur, mixed tofu, etc. The thing is, I've been used to eating that food since I was little," said Ida, who has now started to limit her carbohydrate intake, brown rice is now her choice.

Even when she moved to Jakarta, her love for East Javanese culinary never disappeared. "Even when I'm in Jakarta, I still like East Javanese dishes. Sometimes I make it myself at home. But for rujak cingur I usually buy it, in Jakarta there are lots of typical East Javanese stalls," continued the General Chairperson of PP Fatayat NU.

Attention for Family

Being busy with activities at the office and at parties does not make Ida forget to pay attention to her family. From Monday to Friday she focuses on work and other activities, weekends are the best time for her to chat with her family. Usually they exercise together or eat together at home or at a restaurant.

"I try to spend time on weekends, if there are no important activities that require attendance either at the office or party activities, I will spend time with my family with my husband and eldest child who is still in high school, because his younger brother is still in Islamic boarding school," said the former chairperson of DPR RI Nation of the Awakening Party faction.

According to Ida, as parents, she and her husband -- Taufiq R. Abdullah -- cannot always contact their children at the Islamic boarding school at all times. But there are times when they can communicate through teachers or coaches. “But on certain occasions we can also visit children at Islamic boarding schools. So I have to really take advantage of the time the Islamic boarding school gives us," she explained.

School holidays are the most awaited moment, because that's when everyone can gather together. “At that time, at least you could eat together, if you wanted more it seemed difficult. The thing is, children who have grown up also have their own world with their friends. We as parents will continue to monitor him even if he gathers with his friends," said Ida, who also serves as Deputy General Chair of the PKB DPP for Welfare and Economic Affairs.

For her children, Ida never stops praying so that they can study smoothly and achieve their dreams. "The important thing is to pray after prayer, may Allah protect them and make it easier for them. That's what I can do," she added.

>

To all children wherever they are, Ida Fauziyah advised them to be persistent and study hard. “The future is determined by you, not by others. Use the time to learn, hone yourself as best as possible. Indonesia really hopes for all of you," she concluded.

"Indeed, many jobs will be lost, but what is important to note is that new jobs will also emerge which could be opportunities. Between the lost and the new, there are more new ones. Our job is to prepare vocational education and training so that we are ready to welcome these new job opportunities."