Manpower Minister Highlights Need for Equitable Distribution in 2026 National Internship Programme

Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli has stated that equitable distribution of companies and participants in the National Internship Programme (MagangHub) is crucial for its second batch in 2026. Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday, he noted that the first batch was heavily concentrated on Java, specifically Jakarta. “Going forward, we want the distribution to be more even. If there is high demand, we may base it on distribution across each region or province,” Yassierli said. He acknowledged that the concentration in Jakarta might be due to higher minimum wages or because participants viewed the internship as an opportunity to gain experience directly in the nation’s capital. The Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) is considering a proportional basis, particularly from interested companies offering internship vacancies, so that fresh graduates can try the programme in their nearest regions. “The basis will be proportional. We have data on university graduates in each province, and that will be one of the considerations to ensure even distribution,” the Minister explained. Kemnaker acts as a hub connecting companies with prospective participants across various provinces. “The process is that companies post vacancies, then the prospective interns choose, and finally we make the determination,” Yassierli said. He added that if a province has too many applicants, they might close it there and add more slots for other provinces, though this also depends on the number of vacancies and companies in each region. The first phase of the 2026 National Internship Programme is planned to begin in July with an initial target of around 50,000 participants. The programme will be implemented in stages to meet the established national target of 150,000 participants.