Labour Minister: National Vocational Training expands new employment opportunities

Jakarta — Labour Minister Yassierli has stated that the National Vocational Training programme is expected to expand employment opportunities for senior secondary school (SMA/SMK) graduates.

“At the end of the training, participants receive a certificate, and whilst there is no guarantee that those who complete the training will immediately find employment, their chances of securing work are significantly enhanced,” said the Labour Minister during a podcast interview with ANTARA at the Labour Ministry in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The National Vocational Training programme is scheduled to commence on 1 April 2026. The first phase of the initiative will accommodate at least 20,000 participants, comprising graduates of senior secondary schools from the past three years.

The programme is being delivered free of charge across 21 Technical Implementation Units (UPT) of Vocational Training and Productivity Centres (BPVP), 13 Labour Ministry Service Units (Satpel), and several regional labour training centres throughout Indonesia.

In the first batch, vocational fields available include Information and Communication Technology (ICT), entrepreneurship, manufacturing, automotive, tourism and construction.

Training programmes offered encompass Internet of Things (IoT), solar panel installation, welding, CNC machine operation, industrial automation, electric vehicles, cyber security, digital marketing, smart farming and industrial food processing, amongst various other specialisms.

Furthermore, Labour Minister Yassierli noted that the government is also providing several facilities for programme participants.

“Our centres already have networks with local industries. I am confident that with more choices available and participants holding certificates, this will certainly attract the attention of companies seeking to recruit,” said Yassierli.