REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDUNG -- Deputy Chairman of the West Java Provincial DPRD from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction, Iwan Suryawan criticized the still high level of open unemployment (TPT) in West Java for the August 2024 period which reached 6.75 percent, the highest compared to the national level of 4.91 percent.

Based on data from the West Java Central Statistics Agency (BPS), it is stated that the high TPT is contributed by the non-absorption of the workforce at the Vocational High School (SMK) education level, namely 12.74 percent.

West Java Province BPS data states that when viewed based on the highest level of education completed. TPT in August 2024 has the same pattern as August 2023. In August 2024, TPT from Vocational High School graduates still contributed the highest figure compared to graduates of other levels of education, namely 12.74 percent.

"Not matching (in harmony) between vocational school graduates and industry needs is one of the causes of still high unemployment at the vocational school level," said Iwan Suryawan in Bandung City, West Java, Monday (11/11/2024).

There needs to be goodwill from the West Java Provincial Government (Pemdaprov) to overcome the high TPT in West Java. Apart from having to match the vocational school education curriculum with current industrial needs, investment entering West Java is also expected to be able to absorb the workforce, one of which is at the vocational school level where unemployment is still high.

"So perhaps this should be a joint study on how to increase job opportunities more widely by following today's economic developments and the development of technology-based (capital-intensive) jobs," stressed Iwan Suryawan.

Apart from that, his party also criticized the wave of layoffs (PHK) that occurred recently due to various factors. Such as the relocation of several factories in West Java to other areas, imported products eroding local products to the point that employers consider the wage burden to be too high.

"Of course this is related to government policy and employment policy, slowing economic growth conditions, wage costs and all kinds of things," he said.

Indeed, almost all employees want better wages for welfare. However, there are several things to consider, namely, regarding the capabilities of the company, the goodwill of the company, both parties must be equally accommodated (regarding the wage burden for employers and welfare for workers) that must be considered.

(SOURCE)