Minister calls for internship program to include SMK graduates

hartono · Nov 28, 2025

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa delivers a statement to the press at the Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta, on Thursday (November 27, 2025). /ANTARA/Imamatul Silfia.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has proposed that the government's National Internship Program also include graduates of vocational high schools (SMK) to boost labor absorption.

"We will propose to the Ministry of Manpower that they consider vocational high school graduates," he said during a meeting with Commission XI of the House of Representatives (DPR) here on Thursday.

He emphasized that SMK graduates are an important source of labor that requires greater attention. So far, policy discussions on employment have focused mainly on university and vocational university graduates.

Sadewa stressed that creating jobs for SMK graduates is essential, noting that efforts must consider both the supply and demand sides of the labor market.

He said improvements on the demand side must be supported by strong economic performance.

"If economic growth remains at the current level, it will be difficult. But in the future, I believe SMK graduates will find jobs more easily than they do now," he said.

He added that maintaining economic growth at around six to seven percent is necessary to create enough jobs for the working-age population.

For this reason, he expressed hope that various programs under President Prabowo Subianto's administration will help achieve the targeted growth level.

The National Internship Program, which currently focuses on university graduates, was launched by the Indonesian government to enhance workforce skills.

This year, the Ministry of Manpower aims to reach a total of one hundred thousand participants across three batches.

The ministry has opened Batches 1 and 2, involving around eighty thousand participants, while Batch 3 is scheduled to open on December 15, 2025.