Indonesia prepares for demographic bonus by strengthening human capital development

Selasa, September 17, 2024 – 8:16 p.m. WIB

Jakarta, VIVA – Indonesia is preparing to maximize its demographic bonus, which is expected to last until 2030, by focusing on human capital development in key sectors such as education, health and employment. Over the past decade, the government has actively worked to build a globally competitive workforce.

Nunung Nuryartono, Deputy Representative for Improving Social Welfare at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK), emphasized the government’s holistic approach.

“Human capital development cannot be achieved in just one phase. It starts in the prenatal stage with the reduction of stunting, continues through school age and extends into old age,” he said during a discussion at the Merdeka Barat 9 Forum (FMB9) on Tuesday, September 17.

In the health sector, tackling stunting remains a top priority. The government aims to reduce the stunting rate to below 20% to meet WHO standards. BPJS Health, Indonesia's national health insurance scheme, now covers 98.6% of the population, ensuring wider access to healthcare, including in remote areas.

“The government continues to work to strengthen health care, including in the 3T regions (border, peripheral and disadvantaged areas), through initiatives such as health insurance and improved access to specialists,” Nuryartono added.

Education is also a focus: initiatives such as the Merdeka Campus programme, launched in 2020, aim to close the skills gap between graduates and the labour market.

“We are not only improving the quality of education, but also ensuring that every Indonesian child receives a meaningful and relevant education,” said Suharti, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated health reforms. “The pandemic has forced us to rapidly improve our health infrastructure and services,” he said.

A major success is the introduction of universal health insurance in Indonesia under the National Health Insurance (JKN), which complies with WHO standards.

These integrated health and education efforts are critical to building Indonesia's future workforce and ensuring that the country makes the most of its demographic advantage.