Jakarta City Council Chairman, Khoirudin believes that optimizing Mobile Training Units (MTUs) could be the key to accelerating workforce absorption through proactive vocational training.

According to him, this "training on wheels" concept allows residents to acquire new skills without the hassle of traveling to a fixed training center.

“It’s essentially a Mobile Training Unit. Instead of people going to the facility, the facility comes to the people to make learning more accessible,” he expressed, Thursday (2/26).

He explained, the lack of infrastructure at Regional Job Training Centers (PPKD) has made a significant bottleneck in workforce development. Some centers are struggling to manage more than 5,000 applicants.

"Infrastructure across Jakarta needs an urgent upgrade. Without expanding our reach and capacity, we won't see an increase in trainees, which means we won't see a decrease in unemployment. It’s a direct correlation," he explained.

He emphasized the urgent need for Jakarta’s training programs to balance the annual surge of new entrants to the job market. As diplomas are handed out, the government must be ready with skills-based solutions.

"We have to pick up the pace. It’s about ensuring our training programs move as fast as the graduates coming out of schools and universities, so they don't end up unemployed but are instead ready to hit the ground running in their careers," he added.

This vocational training stands as the most effective short-term fix for Jakarta's jobless rate, but its reach must be widened through cross-sectoral cooperation.

"In the short term, training is key. With the Governor's backing, we can forge alliances to expand these programs. After countless consultations, it’s clear we need to dismantle bureaucratic bottlenecks. That is exactly what I am addressing in today’s leadership summit," he asserted.

Asserting that the current budget is not doing enough for job seekers, he is pushing for a shift in strategy. He suggests tapping into CSR funds to provide more hands-on vocational training for the community.

Taking a direct approach, he plans to bring the training to the people.

"We’re bringing in food truck baristas and bakery experts for on-site workshops. Whether you want to start a coffee shop or a small bakery, the doors are open to everyone. It’s free and public-access," Khoirudin noted.

While Japan is calling for 15,000 new workers, the number of residents from East Jakarta making the move is still disappointingly low. He is calling for a major shift in how the city handles labor supply, insisting it is not just a government task but a private sector challenge too.

"Labor sourcing is a two-way street between the government and the private sector. If private firms can manage such large-scale recruitment, why is the government lagging behind?," Khoirudin remarked, highlighting the need for better efficiency in state-run employment programs.