INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta, the Ministry of Industry continues to encourage the increased competence of human resources (HR) industry in order to keep up with the latest technological developments, especially in Industrial era 4.0.

Because the skills of these workers are able to spur the competitiveness of national manufacturing in the global arena.

"After 3.5 years of government incentive to carry out infrastructure development, according to the direction of Mr. President Joko Widodo, this year's time to focus on improving human resource competence. With good quality of human resources, they can compete in the middle of the era of free competition at this time, "said Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto in his statement received in Jakarta, Tuesday (1/5/2018).

Minister of Industry convey, along with several industrial investment projects that are running in the country, should be managed and operated by local workers.

"For that, we hold various education and vocational training programs to create competent and professional human resources according to industry needs in supporting national economic independence," he said.

Ministry of Industry has launched a vocational education program that links and matches between industries with Vocational High School (SMK) in several areas of Indonesia, covering East Java, Central Java and Yogyakarta, West Java, North Sumatra, and DKI Jakarta and Banten.

"Up to five stages, the total industry involved reached 558 companies by holding 1,537 SMK," said Airlangga.

Ministry of Industry targets the vocational education program to be followed by 1,775 SMK and 355 industries by 2019. For the number of industries, it has exceeded the target.

"We appreciate the enthusiasm of the industry sector next week, we are scheduled to launch in Palembang for the southern part of Sumatra," he added.

Minister of Industry is optimistic that the target of one million competent certified industrial human resources until 2019 will be achieved, with 845,000 students contributing from link and match program and 162,000 3in1 Training graduates (training, competency certification and work placement).

Furthermore, Ministry of Industry conducts productive teacher technical training, internship of teachers in industry, and facilitation of providing silver expert.

"Skilled human resources are also supplied through Ministry of Industry vocational education unit, where currently there are nine SMK, nine polytechnics, one community academy, and one Diploma I industry program," he explained.