APINDO Semarang Regency Urges Government to Facilitate Garment Workforce Training
Friday, 12 September 2025
UNGARAN – The Chairman of the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo) Semarang Regency, Ari Prabono, has called for stronger government involvement in training prospective workers, particularly in the garment sector.
“Many companies have had to bring in prospective workers from West Sumatra and Lampung to meet their labor needs,” Ari said during a working visit by Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) at the Semarang Regent’s Office Complex, Friday (Sept 12, 2025).
Because of this labor shortage, companies are required to provide at least one month of training before the workers are ready for production.
“In addition, we hope there will be improvements in health services for workers in the southern region of Semarang Regency,” Ari added.
Responding to this, DPR Commission IX member Edy Wuryanto confirmed that garment companies have long been forced to conduct in-house training for newly recruited workers.
“Training usually takes at least one month and involves recruits from within and outside Semarang Regency, even from other provinces such as Sumatra. This highlights the need for government-backed training programs for garment industry workers in Semarang Regency,” Edy stated.
He added that the labor situation in Semarang would be reported to the Minister of Manpower.
“The Ministry of Manpower has a 2025 program targeting the creation of job opportunities for up to 53,000 workers nationwide,” he said.
Edy expressed hope that part of this initiative would be allocated to Semarang Regency.
“Hopefully, around 3,000 workers can participate in vocational training programs specifically designed for the garment industry,” he said.
Meanwhile, Semarang Regent Ngesti Nugraha reported that the regency’s open unemployment rate (TPT) currently stands at 25,322 people or 3.73 percent of the total workforce lower than the provincial average.
“One of the key strategies to reduce unemployment is by providing job training through local and community training centers (BLK),” Ngesti explained.
He added that the Semarang Regency Government has proposed a BLK revitalization program worth IDR 2.9 billion to Commission IX of the DPR RI to improve training facilities.
Source: KOMPAS.com
