Labour Minister Asserts National Apprenticeship Programme is Not Intended to Replace Workers

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Manpower, Yassierli, has emphasised that the National Apprenticeship Programme is designed to increase the competence of participants, not to replace existing workers within companies.

Yassierli stated that the government is aware of concerns from various parties that companies might utilise interns to replace existing employees, including through workforce reductions.

“There is a concern, which I also share, that this apprenticeship programme might replace workers. Our hope is, first and foremost, that these participants can learn, and that companies also reap the benefits,” Yassierli said during the Kick-Off of the National Apprenticeship Programme Batch 2, Group 2 in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to him, interns cannot replace workers because the programme only lasts for six months. Companies would also need to provide training to new participants if they continue to rely on interns after each period ends.

“If a company wants to rely solely on apprentices, there is uncertainty, and if it is every six months, they have to teach them all over again. Therefore, we maintain that it cannot (replace workers),” he said.

Yassierli noted that the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) has implemented several regulations to prevent interns from replacing existing employees. Participants are not permitted to work beyond standard working hours, undergo night shifts, or perform specific tasks that do not align with the apprenticeship scheme.

“If they want to replace existing jobs, we will be strict… we will monitor them,” he added.

He emphasised that the Ministry of Manpower will conduct monitoring, evaluation, and reviews of the programme’s implementation to ensure that apprenticeships remain oriented towards enhancing participant competence.

The Ministry of Manpower noted that almost 50 per cent, or approximately 30,000 out of 60,000 participants in the 2025 National Apprenticeship Programme, had secured employment within three months of completing the programme.

The National Apprenticeship Programme will continue into 2026. In Batch 1, 46,000 participants took part in the programme, while in Batch 2, 40,962 participants were declared successful after passing the selection process. The government aims for a total of 150,000 participants in the 2026 National Apprenticeship Programme across three batches.