Government opens recruitment for 30,000 Merah Putih Village Cooperative managers

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government, through the national selection committee, has officially opened recruitment for 30,000 positions as managers of Merah Putih Village/Urban Village Cooperatives (Kopdes).

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, who also chairs the Task Force for the Establishment of Merah Putih Village Cooperatives, stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday that the first phase of recruitment provides 30,000 slots.

The selection is open to graduates of D3, D4, and S1 programmes from all majors, with a maximum age of 35 years and a minimum GPA of 2.75. Registration runs until 24 April 2026 via the official channel https://phtc.panselnas.go.id.

Zulkifli emphasised that the selection process will be conducted openly, transparently, and accountably, with no fees charged.

He said the 30,000 successful Merah Putih Kopdes managers will work under the state-owned enterprise PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara, under a Fixed-Term Employment Agreement (PKWT) for two years.

“After that, it will be further refined; for two years under the SOE. After that, if the handover is exactly two years, they will join the Merah Putih Village Cooperative,” he said.

Zulkifli added that the programme will proceed in stages in line with the government’s targets. He noted that 30,000 units of Merah Putih Kopdes are targeted to be completed by June–July 2026.

The Coordinating Minister for Food stressed the importance of the role of cooperative managers as drivers of village economies.

“The nation calls on its best sons and daughters to be present in villages, urban villages, and fishing communities. Let us all monitor together so that those selected are truly the best human resources for an advanced Indonesia,” he stated.

The recruitment is coordinated by the SOE Holding (BP BUMN), supported by various ministries and agencies, including the State Secretariat Ministry, Ministry of State Apparatus Utilisation and Bureaucratic Reform (PAN-RB), Ministry of Cooperatives, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Finance.