"If using traditional cooking utensils, it would require around 45–46 people. There would be new job opportunities for 1.5 million people (for 30 thousand service units)," he said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He explained that the service units will be different from public kitchens.
According to him, the function of the service units will cover cooking and managing local agricultural products as well.
Each service unit will also have a manager who will regulate the purchase and processing of food, Hindayana informed.
"Thus, we call it a service unit, not a kitchen," he said.
He added that the local community — men, women, and teenagers — would be prioritized when recruiting employees for the service units.
Besides service units, local farmers supplying food ingredients will also be involved in the absorption of workers for the Free Nutritious Meals program, Hindayana disclosed.
He said he hopes that the 30 thousand service units can start operating by no later than 2027.
"It can also operate faster," he added.
He informed that the labor absorption scheme is in line with the proposal of the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia researcher Eliza Mardian, who said that the program must be designed to create a substantial multiplier effect in the economy.
According to him, the program's main priority is to create backward linkages for the formation and strengthening of local supply chains involving local farmers, local fishermen, local livestock breeders, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and village cooperatives.
His party will continue to promote food diversification based on local commodities and increase public awareness about nutrition.
This will be followed by the implementation of digital technology in the entire MBG process chain, from procurement to monitoring and evaluation, to ensure efficiency and transparency, Hindayana added.
Related news: DPR approves National Nutrition Agencyas working partner
Related news: Free Nutritious Meal Program could boost public health: BKKBN
Translator: Imamatul Silfia, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
