Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – The government has earmarked Rp 4.8 trillion ($305.86 million) in 2024 to enroll 1.2 million participants in the Kartu Prakerja (pre-employment card) program, with a target of reaching a total of 19 million participants this year.
Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said that since its launch in April 2020, the program aimed at training the unemployed has successfully reached 17.5 million participants in 514 regencies/cities throughout Indonesia.
Out of the 17.5 million participants, the program has provided training to 51 percent women, 48 percent from 212 extremely impoverished regencies/cities, 2 percent from underdeveloped areas, and 3 percent from people with disabilities.
"In total, the government aims to reach 19 million participants by the end of 2024," he said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Despite entering an election year, Airlangga assured that the Kartu Prakerja program implementation would not be disrupted. "Training is not dependent on the political agenda," Airlangga said.
Airlangga emphasized the importance of the Kartu Prakerja program in enhancing human resource skills to optimize Indonesia's demographic bonus. "Some countries cannot utilize the demographic bonus, but Indonesia has a 10-year opportunity ahead, and it must be utilized. One of the programs that can massively drive skill improvement is Kartu Prakerja," Airlangga said.
Participants of the pre-employment card receive Rp 4.2 million per person, with Rp 3.5 million in the form of digital platform training and the rest as cash incentives.
The training includes digital skills (coding, data analysis, cybersecurity), green skills (carbon accounting, sustainable reporting, electric motor), heavy equipment (bulldozer, excavator, and commercial driver), sales and marketing, office administration, soft skills, and more.