Indonesia’s tourism workers in ASEAN bind
Only 6,000 out of Bali’s 200,000 tourism sector workers have passed competency tests, according to the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI)
Perry Markus, secretary of the Bali branch of PHRI, told Bali Daily that few workers would obtain standard certificates needed to compete with regional tourism sector workers when the ASEAN free-labour agreement comes into effect in 2015.
Under the plan, a system of common professional standards will be applied for all ASEAN members.
During 2012, Indonesia’s Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry will facilitate certification programmes for 15,000 workers in the tourism industry.
"Lack of awareness on the importance of upgrading skills, as well as limited funding, has prevented local workers from participating in this important certification process," said Markus.
He urged the managements of hotels and restaurants to allocate funding from their human resource development programmes to allow their employees to obtain the certificates.
Dardja S. Daroes, secretary general of the Profession Certification Agency, added that hotel and restaurant managements were reluctant to send their workers to take part in the tests, as they were afraid of losing their skilled workers once they obtained the certificates
Ian Jarrett
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