The Government Prepares Vocational Training for 50 Thousand Victims of Layoffs

JAKARTA - The government is preparing a national vocational training program for 50 thousand victims of job cuts (PHK) as part of the economic stimulus package for the second semester of 2026.

In addition to the victims of layoffs, the government also targets 220 thousand participants in the national vocational training program which focuses on high school and vocational school graduates.

"Of course, the steps we have taken and are taking are to prepare the program as best we can," said Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli at a press conference in Jakarta, Monday, June 22, reported by ANTARA.

In addition to vocational training, the government also continues the National Internship (MagangHub) program for the second generation in 2026 with a total target of 150 thousand participants throughout the year.

Specifically for internship and vocational programs, the government has prepared a budget of around IDR 6.26 trillion in the second semester of 2026. The total value of economic stimulus injected by the government in the second half of this year reached around IDR 26.34 trillion.

Yassierli said the government was ready to make a number of improvements in the implementation of the next internship program, including related to the distribution of prospective participants and the distribution of vocational fields or professions where participants undergo internships.

He said that previously the 2025 National Internship Program was attended by 102,600 participants involving 8,048 companies and government agencies as internship locations spread throughout Indonesia.

Internship participants receive a minimum wage equivalent allowance, employment social security protection in the form of Work Accident Insurance (JKK) and Death Insurance (JKM), as well as mentoring from the company.

In addition, participants also receive competence certification from the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP). If in the first batch the certification is optional, in the second batch the facility will be integrated with the implementation of the internship program.

Yassierli added that the first National Internship Program in 2025 had officially closed last week.

For the second batch in 2026, the government will soon announce details of the implementation schedule and target the program to start running in July 2026.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said that the internship and vocational programs that will continue in the second half of this year are expected to be a driving force for the economy in the community.

"So the total stimulus issued by the government for the second semester is around Rp. 26.34 trillion. Transportation incentive stimulus is around Rp. 2.04 trillion in the budget, internships and vocations are around Rp. 6.26 trillion, and food assistance is Rp. 18.04 trillion," said Airlangga.