National Internship Programme Expanded to Absorb 150,000 Participants
The government, through the Ministry of Manpower, has officially launched the 2026 National Internship Programme (PMN). Now in its second year, the programme initiated by President Prabowo Subianto has been expanded by increasing the number of participants and participating companies.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stated that one of the government’s persistent challenges is accelerating the transition of university graduates into the workforce. “One of the government’s long-standing tasks is figuring out how university graduates, especially those with bachelor’s degrees, can immediately secure employment and a salary upon graduation,” Teddy said in a statement on Monday (29/6).
He explained that since 2025, the government, through Minister of Manpower Yassierli, has been running the National Internship Programme as a solution to improve job opportunities for fresh graduates. “For that reason, since last year and now in its second year, President Prabowo, through Manpower Minister Prof Yassierli and his team, has created the National Internship Programme,” he continued.
Under the programme, bachelor’s degree graduates undergo a six-month internship at partner companies. During the training period, participants receive a monthly income ranging from Rp3.5 million to Rp6 million, adjusted according to the district or city minimum wage at the placement location.
In addition to gaining work experience, participants are directly mentored by senior workers at the company to further develop their skills. This year, the scope of participants has also been broadened to include graduates from various professions as well as persons with disabilities.
After involving 100,000 participants in 2025, the government has increased the programme’s capacity to 150,000 participants this year. They will be placed in approximately 8,800 companies, both state-owned enterprises (BUMN) and private firms.
Teddy assessed that the first year of the PMN yielded encouraging results. Out of the total 100,000 participants, around 30,000 were appointed as permanent employees after completing their internship. Meanwhile, approximately 30 per cent of the remaining participants are still awaiting the recruitment process, which is expected to take place within the next two to three months. “This means the programme is a real bridge for graduates to immediately work and earn an income,” he concluded.