Government Prepares Vocational Training for 50,000 Laid-Off Workers

The government is preparing a national vocational training programme for 50,000 victims of layoffs as part of an economic stimulus package for the second half of 2026. In addition to laid-off workers, the government is also targeting 220,000 participants in the national vocational training programme focused on high school and vocational school graduates. “Of course, the steps we have taken and are currently undertaking involve preparing the programme as thoroughly as possible,” said Minister of Manpower Yassierli during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday. Besides vocational training, the government is continuing the National Internship Programme (MagangHub) for its second cohort in 2026, with a total target of 150,000 participants throughout the year. Specifically for the internship and vocational programmes, the government has prepared a budget of approximately Rp6.26 trillion for the second half of 2026. The total value of the economic stimulus being disbursed by the government in the second half of this year amounts to approximately Rp26.34 trillion. Yassierli stated that the government is ready to implement several improvements in the execution of the next internship programme, including aspects related to the distribution of prospective participants and the distribution of vocational fields or professions where participants will undergo internships. He noted that the 2025 National Internship Programme was previously attended by 102,600 participants, involving 8,048 companies and government agencies as internship locations spread across Indonesia. Internship participants receive an allowance equivalent to the minimum wage, employment social security protection in the form of Work Accident Insurance and Death Insurance, as well as mentoring from company mentors. Additionally, participants obtain competency certification from the National Professional Certification Board. Whereas certification was optional in the first cohort, this facility will be integrated into the implementation of the internship programme in the second cohort. Yassierli added that the first cohort of the 2025 National Internship Programme was officially closed last week. For the second cohort in 2026, the government will soon announce the detailed implementation schedule and is targeting the programme to commence in July 2026. On the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that the internship and vocational programmes continued in the second half of this year are expected to serve as an economic driver within the community. “So the total stimulus issued by the government for this second semester amounts to approximately Rp26.34 trillion. The transport incentive stimulus is around Rp2.04 trillion in budget, internships and vocational training around Rp6.26 trillion, and food assistance amounting to Rp18.04 trillion,” said Airlangga.