Government Targets 20,000 Salary Internship Participants Starting In Quarter IV 2025

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto (Photo: dock. VOI)

JAKARTA The government targets the national internship program for new graduates of higher education (S-1, D-3, and D-2) to start running in the fourth quarter of 2025, between October and December.

"Yes, we hope that in the fourth quarter it can start. Yes, basically the fourth quarter from October to December," said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, quoted on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

Airlangga explained that this internship program will use a roll over system, where in the early stages the government provides a quota of 20,000 participants and if the quota is met, the number of participants will be increased gradually with the same quota and this mechanism will take effect gradually until 2026.

"The quota is roll-over. So if 20,000 is achieved, it goes up again to 20,000. At first we wanted to set a high target, but because implementation requires an adjustment system. This (Mechanism) until 2026," he said.

This program is the result of collaboration between the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Kemendikti Saintek), the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker), the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), and the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo). Later, the types of needs of interns will be adjusted to industrial conditions in each region.

For information, this internship program is part of the 2025 economic stimulus package. The participants will receive an allowance equivalent to the Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP), which is around Rp. 3.3 million per month and is open to new graduates (maximum one year after graduation) from the S-1, D-3, and equivalent levels of education, with a maximum requirement one year after graduation.

In addition, the duration of the internship is set for six months, so that participants can receive a total allowance of around Rp. 19.8 million, depending on the amount of the UMP in their respective regions.

As for now, the Ministry of Manpower together with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology are drafting technical regulations related to the implementation of this program.

The government has prepared a budget of IDR 396 billion to support the program, with an allocation of IDR 198 billion each in 2025 and IDR 198 billion in 2026.