T

housands of new employees are to be recruited by Surabaya-based shipyard company PT PAL to help it meet orders for new vessels to be built by 2014.

Dockyard management announced that as many as 2,500 workers would be required to make a number of warships ordered by the Defense Ministry in the latter’s quest to modernize its weaponry system.

With submarines also on the work program, more workers will be recruited, according to the company’s corporate secretary, Elly Dwirat Manto.

“We will employ more workers, including experts, at our shipyard as well as at subcontractors,” Elly told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

To build a ship, said Elly, the company needs up to 600 workers, while a 60-meter fast attack craft missile ship requires up to 700 workers during the peak of construction.

Another warship to be built by PT PAL is a 105-meter multi-role light frigate, which will be the largest warship ever built at a domestic shipyard. It will be built in cooperation with the Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding company in the Netherlands.

It will also build two 2,400 HP tugboats ordered by the Navy.

“PT PAL is also handling oil and gas exploration for a private company. The manpower needed could reach up to 2,500 workers outside our permanent workers, which number 1,300 people,” he said.

In the first phase of recruitment, the company will hire 300 employees. Some of them will be sent to South Korea on a technology transfer program on submarine
construction.

“We must have smart workers for the transfer of technology. We are prioritizing fresh graduates, who are expected to replace retiring workers,” said Elly.

To recruit workers, the company is cooperating with a number of universities, such as the Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS), Hasanuddin University, Semarang State Polytechnic, the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and Airlangga University.

National Development Planning Minister Armida Alisjahbana earlier disclosed that the number of unemployed people in Indonesia in 2012 would reach between 7.7 million and 7.9 million people, while employment opportunities would absorb only 3.2 million.

Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin applauded the job opportunities offered by the weaponry modernization program.

“We are positive that by 2014, the main weaponry system modernization program will have multiple impacts on the national economy, including reducing the unemployment rate so as to improve people’s welfare,” Sjafrie said during a working visit to PT PAL in Surabaya recently.

With a budget allocation of up to Rp 150 trillion (US$16.05 billion) by 2014, the Defense Ministry plans to procure 151 warships, 333 combat vehicles, three submarines, six helicopters, 54 amphibious tanks and three multi-role light frigates.

“The budget will be used to modernize TNI’s main weaponry system through cooperation with domestic and overseas defense industries,” he said.

Domestic partners include state aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) and state arms company PT Pindad.

PT DI is currently working together with South Korea to produce various commercial aircraft, including helicopters and jet fighters, while PT Pindad is likely to receive orders from the TNI for various combat vehicles, arms and
ammunition.

The measures have been warmly welcomed by institutes of higher learning. ITS spokesman Tjatwari Atisoendari said ITS would prepare students to meet the manpower needs, such as those required by several strategic industries.

“This is a challenge as well as an opportunity for us. We will prepare them to pass the tests so they can immediately be employed and act for the advancement of the national defense industry,” he said.