National Internship Programme No Longer Centred on Java, Opportunities Open Across Indonesia
The government is expanding the coverage of the National Internship Programme by opening opportunities for participants from various regions across Indonesia. The move is intended to ensure that access to work experience is no longer concentrated on the island of Java, while increasing the chances of new graduates entering the workforce.
The programme’s expansion is one of the government’s strategies to reduce unemployment while strengthening the link between education and industry needs. Equalising access is also expected to give graduates from all regions a fair opportunity to develop their competencies.
Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor said the National Internship Programme is one of the instruments prepared by the government to reduce the number of unemployed people in Indonesia. Although it cannot yet resolve all employment problems, the programme is expected to have a positive impact on labour absorption.
“It is indeed not enough to address the unemployment figure of nearly 7.24 million people. But we hope this can at least minimise that number,” Afriansyah said during the FMB9 Dialogue, quoted on Friday, 24 July 2026.
As part of efforts to strengthen the programme, the government is increasing the participant quota from 100,000 people in the first intake to 150,000 participants in the second intake in 2026. The larger quota is accompanied by a wider geographic scope of implementation so that the programme is no longer focused solely on Java.
According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the number of unemployed people in Indonesia reached approximately 7.24 million as of February 2026. Through the National Internship Programme, the government hopes that new graduates can gain work experience to prepare them before entering industry.
Afriansyah explained that participants will not only gain direct work experience at companies. They will also receive an allowance equivalent to the regional minimum wage, BPJS Employment insurance coverage, and competency certification from the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP).
According to him, this experience adds value when participants apply for jobs after completing the internship. The government also hopes participants will understand workplace culture at companies, making them better prepared for the world of work.
“The President hopes that through this National Internship Programme, newly graduated young people will have experience, competence and a memory of working. When they enter the workforce, they will be ready because they have experienced first-hand what workplace culture is like at a company,” Afriansyah said.