Jakarta, October 17, 2024 - The increasingly rapid infrastructure development in Indonesia has created an urgent need for competent, skilled and certified construction workers. According to the latest data, Indonesia needs around 12 million construction workers, but in 2023, only 720,000 of them have been certified. This large gap is a serious challenge for the construction sector, especially in maintaining quality and also in realizing the concept of sustainable construction.
The competence of construction workers is the basis for implementing the MLM (Society, Environment, and Benefits) concept in sustainable construction. Starting from providing better social and economic benefits for the lives of its workers (Society), selecting green and quality production materials (Environment), to worker competence that will ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of work and work time (Benefits).
Responding proactively to this challenge, Semen Merah Putih through the Mandor Pintar Institute (MPI) took the initiative to present a program to improve the quality of the construction workforce through a series of training and certification. This time, Semen Merah Putih collaborated with the Balai Jasa Konstruksi Wilayah III (BJKW-3) and also AkzoNobel, the well-known Dulux paint manufacturer, which also has the same intention and initiative through the Mitra Dulux Partner program.
This collaboration program focuses on providing comprehensive training covering technical skills in building foundations as well as aesthetics in construction. It is important because technical and aesthetic skills complement each other in producing quality and sustainable construction.
The improvement in the quality of the workforce is believed to not only be aimed at strengthening the structural side of the building, but also improving aesthetics and environmental friendliness.
A new breakthrough in cooperation between the private sector and the government this year, the scope of certification has reached levels 5 and 6. Namely, for positions such as Project Manager, QC Manager, and Project Supervisor. In the implementation of the previous program, training focused more on construction workers levels 1 to 3. or operators.
Nyiayu Chairunnikma, Head of Marketing PT. Cemindo Gemilang Tbk. explained that this collaboration is strategic, because it seeks to ensure that construction workers have relevant and standard skills, especially since this is the first collaboration program that brings together 2 complementary construction material players, namely Semen Merah Putih and Dulux.
"Our collaboration with BJKW3 has been going on for quite a long time, but this time it is a new record for us. First, this is a certification test and training level 5-6 or technician-analyst level. To ensure that construction workers, both technician and managerial levels, also have relevant and competitive skills. Second, we collaborate with fellow building material brands, namely Dulux, which has the same vision and intention in improving building quality by developing construction worker competencies," said Ayu. Ayu added that this program is expected to expand the competence and knowledge of contractors and construction technicians in the use of various construction materials, especially cement and paint. So that the management of construction projects is more integrated for various uses of construction materials and the overall quality assurance is more guaranteed.
The certification carried out by these three institutions has been adjusted to the Indonesian National Work Competency Standards (SKKNI). The existence of these standards is expected to ensure that the workforce is increasingly ready to face challenges in modern construction projects that are increasingly complex and large in scale.
In line with Ayu, Samuel E.D.P Tampubolon, Head of the Balai Jasa Konstruksi Wilayah III, stated the importance of partnerships between the government and the industrial sector, in supporting workforce competency in the construction sector.
"A certified workforce is the foundation of every safe and quality construction project. With this certification, construction workers can meet the standards set, increase productivity, and minimize the risk of accidents in the field. This is the key to increasing the competitiveness of our workforce at the national and global levels," said Samuel.
On the same occasion, Yudhy Aryanto, as Country Commercial Head of PT ICI Paints Indonesia (AkzoNobel Decorative Paints Indonesia), emphasized the importance of implementing good technical aspects, aesthetics, and sustainability in the construction sector.
"Understanding and skills in Dulux Full System application techniques are key factors in creating high-quality buildings that meet aesthetic and functional standards, so that they can produce a final construction appearance that is not only aesthetic through a variety of color choices but also protected from weather and damage and has longer durability. AkzoNobel, as a Dulux paint manufacturer, is committed to continuing to provide sustainable product solutions to create a better future (Paint the Future)," explained Yudhy.
Yudhy continued, one of the efforts made by AkzoNobel is through the Dulux Partner Program, which is designed to provide comprehensive support to professionals in the industry, such as painters, contractors, and applicators, through a series of ongoing training and coaching.
Yudhy and Ayu estimate that workers who are certified through this collaboration program can run projects more efficiently in terms of time, cost, and using materials efficiently. In the long term, steps such as the Mandor Pintar Institute and Dulux Partners will actually help maintain balance for the community and the environment.
"This collaboration not only supports more efficient and quality development but also encourages the creation of sustainable construction practices that comply with global safety and sustainability standards. This is a joint effort by Semen Merah Putih together with Dulux and BJKW3," concluded Ayu.
