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KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara – Chairman of the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Bobby Pitoby, has expressed his full support for the 2026 Job Fair organized by the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government through its Manpower and Transmigration Office.

According to Bobby, the event represents a strategic step toward connecting job seekers with companies while improving the quality of the region’s human resources and workforce.

“This is a very positive initiative launched by the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Manpower and Transmigration Office. As the Governor has said, this is the first job fair to be held in NTT,” Bobby said on the sidelines of the 2026 Job Fair at Oepoi Sports Hall in Kupang on Friday (May 23).

He said the relationship between workers and employers is mutually dependent. Therefore, job fairs serve as an important platform for bringing the two sides together and building mutually beneficial collaboration.

“Employers need workers to operate and generate output, while workers need jobs to support their families. So, we are partners who need one another,” he said.

According to Bobby, job fairs provide broader opportunities for companies and job seekers to connect. He also welcomed the plan by NTT Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena to expand job fairs to all regencies and cities across NTT.

“It should not be limited to Kupang City, because workforce needs exist across all 22 regencies and cities. From here, we can move to other areas so that employers and workers there can also meet and collaborate,” he said.

He believes that holding job fairs regularly, for example once every three months, could eventually reach all parts of NTT within the next several years.

“If we hold them every three months, that means four times a year. Within around four to five years, all areas of NTT could be covered. That would be extraordinary,” he said.

Bobby highlighted several areas, including Labuan Bajo, Maumere, Waingapu, and Atambua, which he said have significant potential and need platforms to connect local workers with companies.

In addition to supporting job fairs, Bobby also highlighted the limited number of Vocational Training Centers (Balai Latihan Kerja/BLK) in NTT. He said improving workforce quality depends heavily on the availability of adequate vocational training institutions.

“At present, BLKs are still very limited in NTT, and some regencies do not have one at all. How can we produce a quality workforce if there are no training centers?” he said.

He stressed the importance of collaboration between the government and private sector in providing vocational training capable of improving people’s skills.

“We need support from BLKs so that training programs can be implemented and improve the skills of workers in NTT, enabling them to move up to the next level,” he said.

According to Bobby, workers from NTT actually have strong personal qualities and are valued by many companies. However, their skills and knowledge still need to be strengthened so they can compete in an increasingly competitive labor market.

“People from NTT are actually extraordinary. They are hardworking, loyal, and honest. What needs to be improved is their skills and knowledge. That is why training is so important to improve the quality of our human resources,” he concluded.

Source: Timex Kupang