Page 90 - E-KLIPING KETENAGAKERJAAN 7 OKTOBER 2021

Therefore, the United States Government, through USAID, has strived to help improve
employment conditions for poor and marginalized groups in Indonesia, she added.
"The United States government is committed to helping Indonesia strengthen its human capital
and increase workforce productivity. For the last five years, USAID partnered with the Ministry
of Manpower to equip vulnerable and low-income youth with the skills and resources they need
to reach their full potential and contribute to Indonesia’s economy. With the new skills and
resources, they are ready to compete in the 21st century job market," Kleine remarked.

Obtaining a job is an important life event and helps individuals become active contributors to the
economy, he added.

However, this process is difficult for people with disabilities, youth, and women due to
discrimination, he said.

To address these market entry barriers, the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower has partnered with
USAID to improve the skills of job seekers and increase internship opportunities through
vocational training centers, he added.

USAID had invested to create job-matching platforms to connect employers and job seekers, he
noted.

To date, 425 instructors from 234 vocational training centers across Java have utilized platforms
funded by USAID, he informed.
Beyond expanding employment opportunities, USAID, through the Mitra Kunci program, also
helped promote gender and social inclusion in alignment with national laws, Kleine said.

To date, over 1,200 Indonesian companies have participated in the workforce development
training funded by the US government, including 644 companies under the Mitra Kunci program
in collaboration with the Indonesian Employers’ Association (APINDO), he added.

More than 44,000 women and 300 employees with disabilities have benefited from those
opportunities, he said.

"I would like to thank the US government for their partnership with the government of Indonesia
on inclusive economic development. I would also like to thank other parties involved and hope
that this synergy carries on," Minister Fauziah said.

With the Mitra Kunci program ending, the US government will continue supporting Indonesia's
priorities to increase workforce productivity and inclusion, she added. USAID will continue to
build the capacity of higher education and skills training institutions in aligning their activities
with business needs, she said.

USAID Mitra Kunci is one of the US government’s inclusive economic growth initiatives in
Indonesia, which demonstrates the breadth of engagement under the US-Indonesia strategic
partnership, the minister noted.

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