Indonesia’s economic growth in 2016 ranked third after China and India. It means there is a big opportunity for Indonesia to be one of world’s biggest economies. Going forward, however, Indonesia has yet to meet challenges, one of those is demography.
“We have the demography bonus. Now we have many young people. By 2050, they will all have already aged and this is a challenge that we have to be prepared for,” said Director of Manpower Social Security Agency (BPJSTK), Agus Susanto, MM., on Wednesday (18/1) in Grha Sabha Pramana UGM.
To brief new graduates of UGM Graduate School, he explained the importance of improving Indonesian man power to be able to compete with international workers, particularly amidst the current digital ecosystem. Specially, he highlighted the preparedness of manpower aspect, lamenting the low education of them. To grab the opportunity, Indonesia has to take the momentum of current economic growth where Indonesia needs qualified manpower.
“The number of Indonesia’s manpower is 123 million of which up to 53 million only enjoyed elementary education. Graduates from universities only reach 6.7 %, which is very low,” said Agus.
To improve the manpower quality, Agus said, the role of the BPJSK was to give social security to all manpower in the country. The agency continues to create social innovation to cover all the particpants in 2017.
“The participant of social security (BPJS) until end of 2016 was 22.6 miilion at a growth of 17%. For 2017 we target at having 25.2 million of active participants,” he said.
One of the innovations they made is the PERISAI programme that is already running in Yogyakarta and Jember as the pilot project.
“Innovation with the Perisai agents will help us reach out to all participants anywhere to give socialisation, guidance, and advice related to social security,” said Agus.
To the new graduates of UGM Graduate School, Agus expected them to be able to use the konwledge they have gained here to build Indonesia in any field of their expertise.
“Let’s implement our knowledge, what we gain from UGM to be developed for the society. The country needs the real work of you all,” he concluded.
Besides presenting Agus as speakers, UGM also invited Director of Human Capital PT. Wijaya Karya (Persero) tbk., I Gusti Ngurah Askhara Danadiputra, SE, MM. In his description, he asked the new graduates to think creatively and produce innovation and great ideas as these are the key to success in the work market competition.
“By studying at master’s and doctoral degees, we strengthen our thoughts,we have to be creative, not staying in the comfort zone. If you have regular way of thinking, you’ll be ignored,” said Askhara.