Recruitment for Red and White Village Cooperatives Opens, Government Assures No 'Ordal' Backdoor Routes

The government has affirmed that the national recruitment process for employees of the Red and White Village/Urban Ward Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) will be conducted fairly, selecting only the best candidates. The government has closed off opportunities for applicants seeking entry through specific connections or other unofficial routes. “There are no special channels, no endorsements, and no guarantees of passing from any party,” stated Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs and Head of the Task Force for the Formation of Red and White Village Cooperatives, Zulkifli Hasan, also known as Zulhas, during a press conference on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. He also emphasised that registrations will only be accepted centrally through phtc.panselnas.go.id, with no fees required. Therefore, he urged prospective applicants to be wary of individuals offering promises of success in exchange for certain compensations. “If any party demands payment and promises passing, that means they are deceiving and lying,” he said. Furthermore, he stressed that the government, through the National Selection Committee (panselnas), will only approve applicants who meet the requirements and are deemed suitable. The main requirements for this recruitment include graduates of D3, D4, and S1 programmes from all majors, with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (IPK) of 2.75, and a maximum age of 35 years. However, Zulkifli also noted that an applicant’s domicile will be a determining factor if two or more applicants have the same selection scores. He gave an example: if there are two applicants from Lampung and East Java with the same score for placement in East Java, the applicant from East Java is likely to be prioritised. “If they are suitable and excellent, they will get it. The best one will certainly get it,” Zulkifli explained. “So, follow the selection process properly.” Previously reported, the government has officially opened the recruitment process through the National Selection Committee (Panselnas) for 35,476 individuals who will manage the Red and White Village/Urban Ward Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih). Those who pass the selection will become employees of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) under a Fixed-Term Employment Agreement (PKWT) for two years, in line with the programme scheme for strengthening operations.