10,000 Paving Blocks Produced: Inmate Says 'I Want to Work Here Again After Release'

TANGERANG — The Class I Tangerang Prison in Banten has launched the productive rehabilitation programme Jawara Beton, involving inmates in producing building materials from fly ash and bottom ash (FABA) waste.

The programme enables inmates to produce up to 10,000 paving blocks daily, along with 2,500 compressed bricks, wave breakers, modular homes, and panel fences.

“Production activities involve 70 inmates from a total of 1,500 at Tangerang Prison,” said Tangerang Class I Prison Chief Beni Hidayat in Tangerang on Tuesday (26 May 2026).

Beni explained the initiative began in early 2025 under the leadership of Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto.

He added the programme originated from discussions between the Minister and PLN’s President Director regarding the utilisation of coal power plant waste through inmate involvement.

“During that meeting, the Minister and PLN’s CEO discussed using coal power plant waste by involving inmates,” Beni said.

He stated that involving inmates in Jawara Beton aims to provide skills training so they have work readiness upon reintegration into society.

Before participating in FABA-based building material production, inmates undergo assessment to ensure their readiness and willingness to learn and work.

In addition to vocational training, participating inmates receive bonuses from product sales.

“The bonuses are directly transferred to their accounts, and they are also covered by BPJS Kesehatan and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan,” Beni said.

Currently, Jawara Beton products are used by several private developers, including Summarecon. The compressed bricks produced by Tangerang Prison are also being used in the construction of civil servants’ housing in Bekasi under the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, launched on 19 May 2026.