Jakarta, November 05, 2025 – The Europe Today: The Indonesian government has allocated Rp12 trillion (approximately US$750 million) in scholarships to equip high school and vocational school graduates with language and job skills needed to work abroad, Coordinating Minister for Human Development Muhaimin Iskandar announced on Tuesday.
Speaking after a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, Minister Iskandar said the scholarships will prioritize training in languages and vocational disciplines with strong international demand, including welding, caregiving, and hospitality.
He noted that the initiative aims to enhance the global competitiveness of Indonesian graduates and provide greater access to quality employment opportunities overseas. “The scholarship will be rolled out by year’s end, with as many participants as possible. Even more will join in January,” Iskandar said.
According to the minister, the training program is scheduled to begin before the end of the year, although the total number of participants has yet to be finalized.
Iskandar emphasized that this scholarship program is distinct from another government initiative targeting 500,000 skilled migrant workers, which is being managed by the Ministry of Migrant Workers Protection.
To meet increasing international labor demand, the government has prepared around 500,000 workers trained in welding and hospitality — two industries currently showing strong growth worldwide. On October 22, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the skilled worker program, overseen by the Ministry of Migrant Workers Protection, has been allocated Rp8 trillion (about US$500 million).
Minister Iskandar underlined that the scholarship initiative forms part of a broader national strategy to strengthen Indonesia’s human capital and align its workforce with evolving global labor market needs.
He added that the training programs will emphasize practical skills and internationally recognized certifications, ensuring that Indonesian workers are well-prepared to compete in overseas markets.
“The goal is not just to send workers abroad but to prepare skilled professionals who can represent Indonesia’s quality workforce,” Iskandar said.
