The Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) has not only provided nutritional benefits to students, pregnant women, and toddlers, but it has also made a significant economic impact. The program, implemented for only seven months, has led to the creation of 94,000 jobs in 2,391 Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) all over the country.
The number of employment opportunities has increased as the SPPG units expanded in various regions. Starting with 7,000 workers in January, the figure 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 also risen accordingly. Initially disbursing IDR 1–2 trillion during the first four months of the program, it escalated to IDR 4.4 trillion by early June and eventually reached IDR 5.1 trillion by the end of the first semester in 2025, which accounts for 7.1% of the total allocated IDR 71 trillion.
Fithra Faisal, Senior Advisor at the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), highlighted the significant impact of the MBG program on the economy, particularly in job creation. He emphasized that the initiative is creating economic opportunities for local communities, with expectations of more job opportunities in the second half of the year as budget disbursement speeds up.
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) anticipates that by August, the MBG Program will benefit 20 million individuals through 8,000 operational SPPG units, with a projected budget absorption of IDR 8 trillion. To enhance workforce inclusion, BGN aims to recruit SPPG kitchen staff from families in extreme poverty and lower-income groups, ensuring at least 30% of the staff are from economically vulnerable households.
Fithra views this recruitment strategy as a way to alleviate extreme poverty while simultaneously enhancing the program’s operational capacity and empowering low-income communities. This strategic approach is expected to provide long-term benefits and contribute to reducing poverty rates.
