Rush! This Programme Is Free for Senior High School and Vocational School Graduates, Offering Numerous Facilities
Jakarta — The Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) has introduced the 2026 National Vocational Training Programme as an initiative to enhance workforce competencies, productivity, discipline, work attitude, and professional ethics, preparing individuals for employment or entrepreneurship.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto emphasised that the entire 2026 National Vocational Training Programme is delivered free of charge by the government. The programme has been initiated to strengthen workforce competencies in support of realising excellent human resources by 2045.
“This programme prioritises a link and match concept, ensuring that training is closely aligned with business and industry requirements. Consequently, graduates are expected to immediately meet the demands and needs of the labour market,” Airlangga stated at a press conference regarding the 2026 National Vocational Training Programme at the Ministry of Manpower office on Friday, 27 February 2026.
At the same event, Minister of Manpower Yassierli announced that for Batch 1 of the National Vocational Training, Kemnaker has prepared 20,000 participant slots. Overall, the programme is targeted to benefit more than 70,000 participants through three training batches.
“The 2026 National Vocational Training is simultaneously implemented at 21 Vocational Training and Productivity Centers (BPVP) and 13 Service Units (Satpel) of Kemnaker throughout Indonesia,” Yassierli said.
He explained that the programme is open to individuals aged at least 17 years who have registered on the SIAPkerja platform. For Batch 1 specifically, the programme prioritises graduates from senior high schools, vocational schools, and Islamic senior secondary schools from 2023 to 2025. This policy is designed to address specific labour market needs whilst ensuring programme effectiveness for priority target groups.
“Our hope is that this programme can be optimised. So, in addition to the National Apprenticeship Programme for tertiary graduates, we also provide an alternative programme for high school and vocational school graduates,” he added.
Registration for Batch 1 takes place through skillhub.kemnaker.go.id from 23 February to 6 March 2026. Participant selection occurs from 9-15 March 2026, results are announced on 16 March 2026, and training commences on 1 April 2026.
In Batch 1, available vocational fields include Information and Communications Technology (ICT), entrepreneurship, manufacturing, automotive, tourism, and construction. Training programmes offered include Internet of Things (IoT), solar panel installation, welding, CNC machine operation, industrial automation, electric vehicles, cyber security, digital marketing, smart farming, and industrial food processing.
Participants in the National Vocational Training Programme will receive various facilities including free training and lunch, transportation allowances, workplace injury insurance (JKK) and death insurance (JKM) through the Workers’ Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan), training certificates from BPVP, and competency certificates from the National Professional Certification Board (BNSP). Hostel facilities are also available according to eligibility criteria and availability.