National Internship Program, DPR: The Goal Must Be Clear, Create Real Workers

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the DPR, Yahya Zaini responded to the government's plan to launch the Fresh Graduate National Internship Program in the fourth quarter of 2025. According to him, this program is a positive step to bridge university graduates with industrial needs.

However, Yahya reminded that the purpose of this program must lead to tangible results in terms of employment. The reason is, with a target of 20 thousand participants, the Fresh Graduate National Internship program must be able to reduce the number of educated unemployed.

"The success of the program cannot be measured only from the number of participants or the duration of six months of internships. The final goal must be clear, creating real and sustainable job opportunities," Yahya Zaini told reporters, Friday, September 19.

Yahya also reminded that internship programs should not just be a formality that stops without follow-up. "But it must pave the way in to the formal sector or even encourage independence in the entrepreneurial sector," he said.

The head of the labor commission also emphasized the importance of the company's capacity, both private and state-owned, in implementing this program. Yahya asked the Government to make transparent corporate selection criteria so that internship programs become a forum for skills transfer, increase productivity, and innovation.

"So it's not just an administrative burden," said the Golkar legislator from the East Java VIII electoral district.

Yahya also encouraged that the national internship program for fresh graduates be directed to priority sectors that support national economic development. Starting from manufacturing, digital technology, renewable energy, to the creative industry.

"With the right focus, an investment of IDR 198 billion for this program will produce a large multiplier effect, and reduce unemployment while increasing the competitiveness of the national industry," he concluded.

As is known, the Indonesian government will soon open a special national internship program for 20 thousand fresh graduates as part of the 2025 economic stimulus package.

This was revealed by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto after a limited meeting related to the economic stimulus led by President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace, Monday, September 15.

This program aims to provide opportunities for new graduates to gain work experience while at the same time supporting job creation in various industrial sectors. Through this program, the Government prepares 20 thousand internship quotas that are open to university graduates with a maximum graduation period of 1 year.

The government has also budgeted funds for a fresh graduate internship of IDR 198 billion, respectively for 2025 and 2026. The large budget is mainly for the purpose of providing pocket money for internship participants.

With this scheme, each intern has the opportunity to receive an income of up to Rp. 20 million for 6 months or equivalent to the Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) every month, according to the domicile of the internship.