House Suggests Indonesia Emulate Japan in Recruiting Cooperative Managers

A member of the House of Representatives (DPR) has proposed that Indonesia look to Japan and the Netherlands for best practices in recruiting cooperative managers. Rivqy Abdul Halim, a member of Commission VI, made the suggestion in response to the deaths of five prospective managers of the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (Red and White Village Cooperatives) during a recruitment process that included military-style physical training.

Rivqy argued that training for cooperative manager candidates should emphasise practical fieldwork, such as business internships and professional mentoring, rather than physical tests. He highlighted Japan’s approach, which provides business training, management education, and professional guidance to develop agricultural cooperatives. He also pointed to the Netherlands, where cooperatives thrive under the stewardship of professional managers.

“Indonesia needs to adopt these best practices,” Rivqy stated on Wednesday, 1 July 2026. He stressed that the success of the Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih programme hinges on being managed by professional, high-integrity individuals who understand business and receive continuous development.

Regarding the current recruitment process, Rivqy noted that the retreat for candidates lasted a full month, followed by only 15 days of managerial training. He recommended significantly reducing the duration of the retreat and shifting the focus entirely to managerial schemes.