Ministry of Manpower Pushes Economic Recovery Through Vocational Training for 6,954 Participants in Aceh and North Sumatra
The Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) is encouraging affected communities to return to work and generate income. In line with this spirit, the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) has disbursed aid worth Rp 32.25 billion for the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra. The aid is focused on vocational training, labour-intensive programmes, and entrepreneurship.
The aid, titled Kemnaker Peduli, was handed over by Minister of Manpower Yassierli at the Medan Vocational Training and Productivity Centre (BBPVP) on Tuesday, 21 April 2026. The programme targets Aceh and North Sumatra as an effort to promote sustainable recovery through strengthening skills and entrepreneurship.
“With the spirit of mutual cooperation and the resilience of the people of North Sumatra and Aceh, we will be able to rise and recover together,” said Yassierli.
The majority of the budget is allocated for vocational training. In North Sumatra, Rp 16.5 billion is prepared for 4,516 participants, while in Aceh Rp 8.9 billion for 2,438 participants. The aim is to enhance the work skills of affected residents so they can re-enter the job market or start independent businesses.
In addition, Kemnaker has allocated Rp 4 billion for 40 packages of labour-intensive programmes. This scheme is intended to open temporary job opportunities while reactivating the local economy in affected areas.
Furthermore, Kemnaker is distributing social assistance to affected workers in the form of aid for 28 individuals in severe and moderate categories, consisting of food packages and consolation gifts worth Rp 52.5 million. There is also entrepreneurship support through the MPSI programme in the form of training and business capital assistance worth Rp 750 million.
Yassierli emphasised that this aid is the initial stage of a longer recovery effort. “A disaster may destroy buildings, but it must not destroy our spirit. Let us turn this calamity into a point to rise stronger and better prepared for the future,” he stated.
Kemnaker’s steps are part of the broader orchestration of post-disaster recovery in Sumatra. Through Presidential Decree Number 1 of 2026, President Prabowo Subianto appointed Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian as Head of Satgas PRR to accelerate recovery in various sectors.
Tito assured recovery of all aspects, including the economic sector, connectivity, sanitation, safe housing, places of worship, health, public services, and education. “Market activities and the community’s economy are starting to run again, all thanks to our hard work,” said Tito on 18 February 2026.