National Internship Programme Opens Opportunities for Job Seekers While Supporting Businesses
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDUNG — Iwan Koswara, a member of Commission V of the West Java Provincial Parliament (DPRD), believes the National Internship Programme can serve as a strategic instrument to reduce the Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) in West Java. The national programme is seen as capable of bridging the needs of the business world with the availability of workers who possess competence and experience.
According to Iwan, the high unemployment figure is not solely influenced by limited job opportunities. There remains a gap between graduates’ competencies and industry needs, while many companies require prior work experience from job candidates.
“The national internship programme becomes a bridge connecting graduates with the world of work. Participants gain experience, improve their skills, and at the same time receive a stipend while taking part in the programme,” Iwan said on Saturday (11/7/2026).
He said the programme’s benefits are not felt only by the interns themselves. Businesses also gain room to identify, nurture, and develop human resources according to company needs before recruiting them as permanent employees.
In his view, the scheme can become a mutually beneficial solution. Graduates obtain the work experience they need, while companies can prepare more job-ready candidates 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 regional governments. Collaboration among stakeholders is considered essential so that the programme’s benefits can be felt more widely and can enhance the competitiveness of the workforce in West Java.
According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), West Java still records the highest Open Unemployment Rate nationally, at 6.74 percent in February 2026. This situation demonstrates the need for various breakthroughs capable of accelerating labour absorption, particularly for fresh graduates.
Therefore, Iwan is optimistic that the National Internship Programme can be one solution to strengthen the quality of human resources while broadening access to the world of work. He hopes the programme can contribute to gradually reducing the unemployment rate and driving more inclusive economic growth in West Java.