Govt to provide vocational training for 50,000 laid-off workers

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is preparing a national vocational training programme for 50,000 laid-off workers as part of the economic stimulus package for the second half of 2026.

The government is also targeting 220,000 participants in the national vocational training programme, which focuses on high school and vocational school graduates.

"We are currently preparing the programme in the best possible way," Minister of Manpower Yassierli conveyed at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

He added the government is also continuing the National Internship Program (MagangHub) for a second batch in 2026, with a total target of 150,000 participants throughout the year.

For the internship and vocational programmes, the budget allocated in the second half of this year amounted at Rp6.26 trillion (US$341 million).

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Meanwhile, the total value of the economic stimulus disbursed by the government in the second half of this year reaches approximately Rp26.34 trillion (US$1,4 billion).

According to Yassierli, some improvements were made for the internship programme, including the distribution of prospective participants and the fields for vocational or professional participants.

He mentioned the previous 2025 National Internship Programme attracted 102,600 participants, involving 8,048 companies and government agencies across Indonesia as internship locations.

The interns will receive a stipend equivalent to the minimum wage, social security protection in the form of Work Accident Insurance (JKK) and Death Insurance (JKM), and mentorship from the company.

Participants will also gain competency certification from the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP). While certification was optional in the first batch, it will be integrated into the internship program in the second batch.

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For the second batch of 2026, the government will soon announce the detailed implementation schedule and aims to begin the programme in July 2026.

On the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated the internship and vocational programmes are expected to stimulate the economy of the country.

"From the total stimulus package issued by the government, the transportation incentive stimulus is approximately Rp2.04 trillion (US$109 million), internships and vocational programmes are around Rp6.26 trillion (US$341 million), and food assistance is Rp18.04 trillion (US$982 million)," Hartarto confirmed.

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Translator: Rizka Khaerunnisa, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Fransiska Ninditya

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