TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's steel industry would need an additional 15 thousand workers to reach its production target of 10 million tons by 2025, Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said. He revealed that with a capacity of two million tons, steel industry employed five thousand workers.

"To reach the target of 10 million tons, we would need some 15 thousand more workers," Airlangga said on Friday at the ground breaking of the industrial vocational school of PT Gunung Raja Paksi.

Airlangga said that despite its advanced technology, the industry would still need a massive work force for production.

On the occasion, the minister witnessed the signing of an agreement on cooperation in human resource development in the steel industry. The agreement was signed by the ministry's secretary general Haris Munandar and President Director of PT Gunung Raja Paksi Aloisius Maseimilan. Under the agreement, the national steel producer would help the government provide competent human resources for the industry.

The government has launched the vocational education program to match the industry demand of work forces in Indonesia, and provide a tax deduction of 200 percent for the domestic industry that could contribute to human resource development under the program.

"As of now, 745 industries and 2,074 vocational schools are involved in the program. The program could not run well without the support of the industry," Airlangga noted.

ANTARA