Malang, East Java (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s government has met its target of placing 100,000 young graduates in its National Internship Program in 2025 and plans to continue the initiative next year, the manpower minister said, highlighting the scheme as a key tool to ease the transition from campus to the workplace.

Manpower Minister Yassierli said all three recruitment batches for 2025 had been completed, with participants deployed across a wide range of industries as well as ministries and state institutions.

“All three batches have been completed, meaning the 100,000 target has been achieved. Participants are spread across various sectors, ministries, and government agencies,” Yassierli told reporters in Malang, East Java, on Monday.

Data published on the Ministry of Manpower’s official website shows the program ultimately exceeded its goal, accepting 102,697 participants across three intakes that opened from October 2025.

Applicants were recent graduates from higher education institutions registered with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, reflecting the program’s focus on first-time entrants to the labor market.

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Those selected undergo a six-month internship and receive a monthly allowance equivalent to the local minimum wage in their placement area, providing basic income support during the training period.

In addition to the stipend, participants are covered by social security schemes, including Work Accident Insurance and Death Benefits, aimed at ensuring protection during their assignments.

The program is designed to equip university graduates with hands-on professional experience and practical skills that are often lacking among new entrants to the workforce, Yassierli said.

While the internship does not guarantee permanent employment, the minister noted that participants who perform well may be recruited by host companies once their placement ends.

With the first cohort of 2025 participants set to complete their internships in April 2026, the ministry is preparing to roll the program into the following year.

“For now, the target remains the same, at 100,000 participants per year,” Yassierli said, signaling the government’s intention to maintain the scale of the initiative in 2026.

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Translator: Ananto Pradana, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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