Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto’s administration has launched the second batch of the National Internship Program, offering fresh university graduates paid placements with stipends equal to the local minimum wage (UMK) to boost employment and strengthen collaboration between education, industry, and government.

The initiative, part of the administration’s effort to align education with industry needs, follows the first batch launched on Oct. 13, 2025, which involved 20,000 participants. For the second batch, the government aims to enroll about 80,000 new graduates from across Indonesia in internships spanning various industrial sectors.

Manpower Minister Yassierli said the program would extend beyond private companies and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to include opportunities at government ministries, agencies, and regional administrations.

“In this second batch, the Manpower Ministry is expanding access to include ministries, agencies, and local governments. Corporate participation in this program reflects their commitment to Indonesia’s social and economic development,” Yassierli said on Thursday.

Each participant will undergo a six-month internship and receive a monthly allowance equivalent to the local minimum wage, distributed through state-owned banks under the Himbara network. The government will also cover participants’ employment insurance contributions to the state insurer BPJS Ketenagakerjaan.

The National Internship Program is one of eight economic stimulus packages introduced by President Prabowo’s administration in the fourth quarter of 2025 to spur economic growth and job creation.

The government has allocated Rp 396 billion ($24 million) to support the initiative, split evenly between the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years.

Registration for the program is open online at siapkerja.kemnaker.go.id, with no additional eligibility requirements for applicants.

The timeline for the second batch began on Oct. 24 with registration for host organizations and program proposals, followed by participant registration from Nov. 6 to 12. The selection process will take place from Nov. 12 to 20, with the final list of interns to be announced on Nov. 21 before the program officially starts on Nov. 24.