The Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) has had a significant impact not only on the health of students, pregnant women, and toddlers but also on the economy. Since its implementation, the program has directly created job opportunities for 94,000 individuals working in 2,391 Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) nationwide.
As the number of SPPG units expanded across different regions, the employment figures also saw a noticeable increase. Starting with 7,000 workers in January, the number grew to 68,000 in April, then to 72,000 by the end of June, and eventually reached 94,000 by the end of July.
Budget absorption has mirrored this growth, with an initial disbursement of IDR 1–2 trillion from January to April, escalating to IDR 4.4 trillion by early June, and peaking at IDR 5.1 trillion by the end of the first semester of 2025. This amount accounts for 7.1% of the total IDR 71 trillion allocated for the program.
Fithra Faisal, Senior Advisor at the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), emphasized the positive impact of the MBG program on the real economy, particularly in terms of job creation. Fithra highlighted the program’s role in creating economic opportunities for local communities.
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) predicts that by August, the MBG Program will benefit 20 million individuals through 8,000 operational SPPG units, with a total budget absorption of IDR 8 trillion. In a bid to promote workforce inclusion, BGN plans to recruit kitchen staff from economically disadvantaged households, aiming for 30% of employees to come from extreme poverty or lower-income groups.
Fithra views this initiative as a strategic move to alleviate extreme poverty while enhancing the program’s operational capacity and empowering vulnerable communities. The MBG Program not only addresses nutritional needs but also contributes significantly to job creation and economic growth.
