Jakarta, July 30, 2025 — The Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) has proven to deliver more than just nutritional benefits for students, pregnant women, and toddlers—it is also generating significant economic impact. Within just seven months of implementation, the program has directly created employment for 94,000 individuals, distributed across 2,391 Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) nationwide.

Employment figures have increased in line with the expansion of SPPG units across various regions. From 7,000 workers in January, the number rose to 68,000 in April, then to 72,000 by the end of June, and saw a substantial jump to 94,000 by the end of July.

Budget absorption has also increased in parallel. An estimated IDR 1–2 trillion was disbursed during the initial phase of the program (January–April), which grew to IDR 4.4 trillion by early June, and reached IDR 5.1 trillion by the end of the first semester of 2025—equivalent to 7.1% of the total IDR 71 trillion allocated for the program.

According to Fithra Faisal, Senior Advisor at the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), the MBG program has had a notable impact on the real economy, particularly in terms of job creation.

“This initiative is opening up new economic opportunities for local communities,” said Fithra in Jakarta, Thursday (July 31).

He added that job creation is expected to accelerate in the second half of the year, as budget disbursement picks up speed. The more SPPGs are established and the more beneficiaries are served, the greater the fiscal absorption and employment potential.

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) projects that by August, the MBG Program will reach 20 million beneficiaries through 8,000 operational SPPG units. Based on this projection, total budget absorption is expected to reach IDR 8 trillion.

To further support workforce inclusion, BGN plans to recruit SPPG kitchen staff from families living in extreme poverty and lower-income groups (decile 1 and 2). Of the 47 staff members typically employed per SPPG, a minimum of 30% will be drawn from these economically vulnerable households.

Fithra sees this as a strategic measure to help reduce extreme poverty.

“This policy strengthens the program’s operational capacity, especially in logistics and management, while simultaneously empowering low-income communities,” he concluded.