Kopdes Merah Putih Programme Could Absorb 1.4 Million Workers

The Kopdes Merah Putih village cooperative programme is not only aimed at strengthening village economies but also at opening up employment on a large scale. The programme is estimated to be capable of absorbing more than 1.4 million workers across Indonesia if the target of building 80,000 Kopdes Merah Putih units is achieved by 2029.

Head of the Government Communication Body Muhammad Qodari stated that this is one of the important aspects of developing Kopdes Merah Putih, in addition to providing for the community’s needs at affordable prices. According to him, the presence of Kopdes Merah Putih also opens up opportunities for local communities to gain employment. Beyond one manager recruited through a national selection process, each unit also employs 17 local residents to run the cooperative’s operations.

“Each Kopdes Merah Putih outlet involves one manager who has undergone national recruitment, as well as 17 local workers who are all prioritised from the local village,” Qodari said at a press conference on Wednesday, 10 June 2026.

He explained that these local workers fill various positions, ranging from assistant manager, cashier, sales assistant, savings and loan officer, warehouse officer, driver, to security guard. According to Qodari, the scheme is designed so that the economic benefits of Kopdes Merah Putih are felt not only through the cooperative’s business activities but also through job creation in the villages.

“Through Kopdes Merah Putih, the state is present to build a strong system and ecosystem for the village community’s economy so that farmers smile, village residents’ businesses grow, and village youth have jobs and hope for success,” he explained.

Currently, he continued, the government continues to accelerate the construction of Kopdes Merah Putih. As of 8 June 2026, a total of 1,061 units were operational, consisting of 530 units in East Java and 531 units in Central Java. All were symbolically inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto in Nglawak Village, Nganjuk Regency, East Java, on 16 May. Based on data from PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara, 23,010 Kopdes Merah Putih sites are currently under construction. Of this number, 12,232 sites have been physically completed and are entering the operational preparation stage.