Economic Impact of MBG Program: 94,000 Jobs Boosted

The Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) has not only provided nutritional benefits for students, pregnant women, and toddlers but has also had a significant economic impact. In just seven months, the program has created employment for 94,000 individuals spread across 2,391 Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) nationwide. The number of workers has steadily increased as more SPPG units have been established in different regions. Budget absorption has also risen, from IDR 1–2 trillion in the initial phase to IDR 5.1 trillion by the end of the first semester of 2025. Fithra Faisal, Senior Advisor at the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), emphasized the positive effects of the MBG program on job creation, stating that it has opened up new economic opportunities for local communities. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) estimates that by August, the program will have reached 20 million beneficiaries through 8,000 operational SPPG units. To enhance workforce inclusion, BGN plans to recruit kitchen staff from families in extreme poverty and lower-income groups. This initiative aims to not only improve operational capacity but also empower low-income communities. Fithra views this as a strategic step towards reducing extreme poverty and strengthening the program’s impact on both employment and nutrition.

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