Laid-Off Workers Prioritised in 2026 National Vocational Programme
The government is preparing a vocational training programme for 50,000 workers affected by layoffs (PHK) in the second half of 2026. This programme is being rolled out to improve workforce competence while expanding their opportunities to re-enter the job market.
The programme is one component of the economic stimulus launched by the government in the second half of this year. Besides layoff victims, the training is also aimed at high school and vocational school graduates to enhance their readiness to enter the workforce.
Manpower Minister Yassierli said the programme is part of the 2026 National Vocational Training scheme, which targets 220,000 participants. “The National Vocational Training targets 220,000 participants. Fifty thousand of them are for those affected by layoffs,” Yassierli stated during a media briefing on the Semester II 2026 Economic Growth Stimulus at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs office in Central Jakarta, Monday (22/6/2026).
In addition to vocational training, the government will also run the second batch of the National Internship Programme in 2026, targeting 150,000 participants. This programme is expected to strengthen work skills while increasing labour absorption opportunities across various sectors.
Yassierli explained that the evaluation of the 2025 National Internship Programme showed quite positive results. Of the 65,245 participants evaluated, 84 percent expressed satisfaction and high satisfaction with the programme’s implementation.
In terms of economic benefits, around 67 percent of participants admitted the internship programme helped their own and their families’ economic conditions. Meanwhile, 84 percent of mentors and host companies expressed satisfaction with the participants’ contributions during the programme.
The evaluation results also showed that around 30 percent of internship participants received job offers from the companies where they interned. A further 33 percent had not yet received formal job offers but had received indications they would be recruited.
Yassierli said these evaluation results form the basis for improving the implementation of the second batch of the National Internship Programme, including expanding participant coverage and adjusting to the needs of the business world.
“We hope that in July, the second batch of the programme can be implemented immediately,” Yassierli said.
The vocational and internship programmes are among the government’s instruments to maintain public purchasing power while improving the quality of human resources amidst labour market challenges. The government has prepared a budget of approximately Rp6.26 trillion to support the implementation of both programmes.
This employment stimulus complements various other policies announced by the government for the second half of 2026, including food assistance and transport incentives, to maintain the momentum of national economic growth.