Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has allocated Rp12 trillion (about US$750 million) for scholarships to train high school and vocational graduates in language and job skills needed for work abroad, a senior minister said Tuesday.Coordinating Minister for Human Development Muhaimin Iskandar announced the plan after a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta.
He said the scholarships will focus on language proficiency and vocational training in fields with strong global demand, including welding, caregiving, and hospitality.
The initiative aims to boost the competitiveness of Indonesian high school graduates and expand their access to better job opportunities overseas, Iskandar said. The program is expected to grow in scale in the coming years.
The government plans to begin the training program by the end of the year, though the number of participants has not yet been determined.
“The scholarship will be rolled out by year’s end, with as many participants as possible. Even more will join in January,” Iskandar said.
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He emphasized that the scholarship program is separate from another government initiative targeting 500,000 skilled migrant workers, which is being managed by the Ministry of Migrant Workers Protection. To meet rising international labor demand, the government has prepared around 500,000 workers specializing in welding and hospitality — two industries showing strong growth globally.
On October 22, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the skilled worker program, coordinated by the Ministry of Migrant Workers Protection, has been allocated Rp8 trillion (about US$500 million).
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Iskandar said the scholarships are part of a broader government effort to strengthen Indonesia’s human capital and align its labor force with global job market needs. He added that training programs would emphasize practical and internationally recognized certifications to ensure Indonesian workers can compete effectively abroad.
“The goal is not just to send workers overseas but to prepare skilled professionals who can represent Indonesia’s quality workforce,” he said.
