National Internship Programme Opens Opportunities for Job Seekers While Supporting Businesses

A member of the West Java Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD), Iwan Koswara, has assessed that the National Internship Programme can serve as a strategic instrument to reduce the Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) in West Java. The national programme is considered capable of bridging the needs of the business world with the availability of a workforce possessing competence and experience. According to Iwan, the high unemployment rate is not solely influenced by limited job opportunities. A gap still exists between the competencies of graduates and the needs of the industry, while many companies require work experience from prospective workers. “The national internship programme serves as a bridge that connects graduates with the world of work. Participants gain experience, improve their skills, and receive an allowance during the programme,” Iwan said on Saturday (11/7/2026). He stated that the benefits of the programme are not only felt by the interns. The business sector also gains a space to recognise, nurture, and develop human resources according to the company’s needs before recruiting them as permanent employees. According to him, this scheme can be a mutually beneficial solution. Graduates obtain the required work experience, while companies can prepare a more ready workforce without having to immediately bear the full cost of recruitment. Iwan hopes the National Internship Programme will continue to be expanded by involving more companies, universities, vocational schools, and local governments. Collaboration among stakeholders is considered important so that the benefits of the programme can be felt more widely and can improve the competitiveness of the workforce in West Java. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), West Java still recorded the highest Open Unemployment Rate nationally, at 6.74 percent in February 2026. This condition demonstrates the need for various breakthroughs that can accelerate labour absorption, especially for new graduates. Therefore, Iwan is optimistic that the National Internship Programme can be one of the solutions to strengthen the quality of human resources while expanding access to the world of work. He hopes the programme can contribute to gradually reducing the unemployment rate and encouraging more inclusive economic growth in West Java.