Collaboration in Resolving Human Resource Problems
Productive human resources plays an important role in driving the economy. However, increasing the productivity of human resources is not easy because it involves many problems that are quite complex.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Improving the quality of human resources is hampered by a number of complex problems, especially in the fields of education and health. In the next five years, improving human resources will be a priority.
Indicators to be improved include poverty rates, the Gini ratio that indicates inequality, and stunting rates of among children under 5. Improving the quality of human resources requires hard work and collaboration.
That step is absolutely necessary because productivity of human resources and technological development are driving the economy. "Of the five national priorities, development of human resources is the most difficult thing. It is not easy to fix this problem," President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said in his speech at the Kompas100 CEO Forum at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Kuningan, Jakarta, on Thursday.
It is not easy to fix this problem.
The five priorities include improving human resources, continuing infrastructure development, easing regulatory constraints, simplifying bureaucracy and economic transformation.
The event themed "CEO Envisions to Win the Turbulence of Digital Disruption" was attended by leaders of a number of companies included in the Kompas 100 Index. Two discussions were held at this forum. Both of them were chaired by Atma Jaya Catholic University (Unika Atma Jaya) rector A. Prasetyantoko. The first discussion was themed "Indonesia Advances Amid Opportunities and Challenges of Digitalization".
Speakers at the discussion included Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim.
The second discussion was themed "Opportunities and Challenges of the Indonesian Digital Industry", which was attended by Tokopedia CEO William Tanuwijaya and the president director of PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Ririek Adriansya,h as speakers.
Education system
During the event, Minister Nadiem Makarim explained that the productivity of the human resources and technological development played a key role in driving the economy. All the changes made by the government must start with the development of human resources. This change will be bridged by technology.
Citing McKinsey Global Institute research in December 2017, about 800 million workers could lose their jobs due to automation by 2030.
Meanwhile, as of August 2019, in Indonesia, 39.66 percent of 126.51 million workers only had primary school education or below. "Administrative activities will be increasingly threatened because the complexity of the problem. Indonesia must move to a culture of innovation," Nadiem said.
The paradigm should be changed so that it will become more flexible amid uncertainty.
According to Nadiem, the human resource problems in Indonesia are mostly related to behavior, culture and mindset. Many young people entering the workforce cannot communicate and collaborate well, and are undisciplined, and cannot resolve problems.
Soft skill issues must be improved gradually in the education system. Admittedly, the current education system is not yet based on creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking. Improving the education system requires the role of technology and information. "Regulations should be reduced so that teachers and students are free to learn. The paradigm should be changed so that it will become more flexible amid uncertainty," said Nadiem.
Airlangga Hartarto said the government had prepared a road map for Indonesia to enter Industry 4.0 that would be synchronized with government policies, including pre-employment cards.
The card will be issued to improve the quality of Indonesian workers through a training program in order to improve skills. Companies that provide vocational training program will be given incentives in the form of the reduction of their income tax by up to 200 percent of the spending for the training program.
Sri Mulyani said technology could help the government implement its policies according to the targeted goals. Digitalization is used to simplify regulation and cut bureaucratic lines. At present, bureaucracy and regulations are a burden that causes low productivity.
"With technology, policies will have a direct impact on society," Sri Mulyani said.
Inevitable
William Tanuwijaya said globalization was inevitable and had affected all business segments, including e-commerce. At present, it has become a reality that many e-commerce service platform scan provide goods trading transactions across countries. This benefits consumers because they can get the desired goods from many countries. However, for local industry, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), this condition is not easy to deal with. The government, said William, should strengthen the industry and MSMEs to enable them to compete.
Ririek Adriansyah said financial technology services made it easier for people to access financial services. However, on the other hand, there is a problem, namely financial literacy is still low. To further take the advantage of the technology, Telkom plans to develop a giant data analysis system that will connect data between state owned enterprises. The digitalization is believed to be able to improve services for the public.
On the sidelines of the event, Standard Chartered’s economist Aldian Taloputra said quality human resources could spearhead the use of technology in the digital economy era. The human resource is also an important pillar in the national economy. "To strengthen its role in the economy, the human resources must have creativity, innovation ability, and strong soft skills," he said.