The Minister Of Manpower Calls The Key To National Competitiveness By Emphasizing Productivity

JAKARTA - Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli emphasized that increasing national productivity is the main key for Indonesia to strengthen the nation's competitiveness in the midst of intense global competition.

"Productivity is a big challenge for us today. In the last ten years, our productivity growth has only been 25 percent, while China has reached 220 percent," the Minister of Manpower quoted Antara as saying.

The Minister of Manpower revealed that Indonesia's productivity rate is still 10 percent below the average Southeast Asian country. In fact, Indonesia's Total Factor Productivity has decreased.

This means that our ability to produce products, services, and services effectively and efficiently is still inferior to other countries. We have to catch up with this," said Yassierli.

He added that President Prabowo Subianto had given directions that government priority programs were focused on job creation and increasing national productivity.

The Ministry of Manpower also took a role to ensure that the agenda went well.

We want to restore the productivity spirit that was once a national movement in the 70s. At that time, productivity was the main focus through the National Productivity Agency. However, this term slowly dims, replaced by other terms such as innovation, performance, and governance. In fact, the essence is the same," said Yassierli.

The Minister of Manpower also reminded that so far the term productivity is often misinterpreted only as efficiency that leads to a reduction in employees.

"In fact, the essence of productivity is our ability to increase greater output. High productivity will have a direct impact on economic growth and improve people's welfare," he said.

He also invited all business actors, including medium-sized companies, to immediately improve and adapt to technological developments and the challenges of free trade.

In his view, productivity must also be applied in the public sector, including government and education. Therefore, changes in mindset and work culture are the main foundations that must be built.

"Productivity is not just a matter of using advanced technology. What is more important is to build a productive mindset and work culture. The Ministry of Manpower is ready to become an initiator in the movement to increase national productivity," said Yassierli.