Jakarta, Nov. 10 -- Manpower Minister Yassierli emphasized that improving productivity is the key to strengthening Indonesia's industrial competitiveness, noting that in the past six to seven years, the nation's labor productivity has remained about 10 percent below the ASEAN average.

Speaking at the kickoff of Productivity Improvement Week in Jakarta on Monday, Yassierli said average labor productivity among ASEAN countries stands at around US$30,200 per worker, while Indonesia's figure is about US$28,600.

He underscored the need for breakthroughs to close the gap and help Indonesia compete with countries such as China, Vietnam, and India.

"Productivity is a fundamental strategy to enhance product quality, process efficiency, and comp...