Vice President: Productive Age Must Work, Do Not Become A Demographic Disaster

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin visited the Manhalul Ma arif Nahdlatul Ulama Darek, Central Lombok, NTB, Friday (10/2/2023). (ANTARA)

CENTRAL LOMBOK - Vice President (Vice President) Ma'ruf Amin said an increase in the population of productive ages of 16-65 years or demographic bonuses needs to be absorbed with the world of work so that demographic disasters do not occur.

"The demographic bonus event will only be a blessing if the productive age population can be absorbed well in the labor market. If not, then the large number of workforces will turn into demographic disasters," said Ma'ruf Amin as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, February 10.

The Vice President conveyed this when inaugurating the 2022 Community Training Center (BLK) and the Community BLK Independent Festival, which was also attended by the Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah, the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara Zulkieflimansyah, and scholars.

"Indonesia will welcome a demographic bonus, where the number of people of productive age or workforce dominates, exceeding the population of unproductive age. We must welcome this condition and address it as a great opportunity to accelerate development," he said.

However, the Vice President said the goal of accelerating progress would not work if it depended solely on the population, because to win global competition, reliable human resources (HR) are absolutely necessary.

"For this reason, the Government continues to strive for various strategies to ensure that Indonesian human resources have the quality and capability to adapt to all changes and disruptions that follow, one of which is through the existence of Community BLK," he added.

According to him, the expansion of the establishment of Community BLK to reach all corners of the country will make it easier for the age group of the workforce to access job training.

"In addition to reducing the unemployment rate, strengthening and expanding vocational training through BLK Community, it is mainly expected to be able to create skilled and competitive workers," he explained.

Currently, he said 3,757 Community BLKs have been built throughout Indonesia.

"I would like to express my appreciation to the minister of manpower and all relevant parties who have supported the implementation of the program," he added.

Meanwhile, in his report, Ida Fauziyah said that from 2017 to 2022 the Ministry of Manpower had allocated programs and budgets for government assistance through the construction of Community BLKs that had spread throughout Indonesia.

"Alhamdulillah, until 2022 the number of BLK Communities that have been built is 3,757. On today's occasion, we invite 846 institutions receiving development assistance and equipment in 2022 to attend and be inaugurated after completion and are ready to organize training programs," said Ida.

Of the 3,757 Community BLKs, the Ministry of Manpower classifies to three, namely "grow" as many as 1,752 Community BLKs, namely having properly organized training, BLK "Developing" as many as 876 Community BLKs with criteria for organizing training and establishing partnerships for training funding and alumni empowerment, as well as BLK "Mandiri" as many as 283 Community BLKs with criteria for producing goods and services and for supporting their institutions.

The rest, as many as 846 new BLK Communities have been completed and inaugurated by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.

"It is proven that in the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the job market and business opportunities are open; but the problem is not necessarily absorbing local communities because people around the area, including Mandalika, do not yet have competence according to the job market; and this can cause the national strategy area to absorb local communities if allowed. So, the purpose and purpose of the Mandalika SEZ is not realized," said Ida.

In the Mandalika area, the Ministry of Manpower integrates these programs in a labor ecosystem through an expansion program for regional-based job opportunities.

The program was carried out collaboratively by the Ministry of Manpower with the Central Lombok Regency Government, PT ITDC KEK managers, business actors, nine supporting village governments in the Mandalika area, and various other cross-sector stakeholders.