The Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) has not only provided essential nutrition for students, pregnant women, and toddlers, but has also made a significant economic impact. In just seven months, the program has created job opportunities for 94,000 individuals through 2,391 Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) nationwide. The employment numbers have steadily increased as more SPPG units have been established in different regions, starting from 7,000 workers in January to 94,000 by the end of July.
Budget disbursement has also risen significantly, from an initial IDR 1–2 trillion in the early stages to IDR 5.1 trillion by the end of the first semester of 2025, accounting 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 job creation and the economy as a whole. He mentioned that the program is creating new economic opportunities for local communities, with expectations of more job openings in the second half of the year as budget disbursement accelerates.
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) predicts that by August, the MBG Program will benefit 20 million individuals through 8,000 SPPG units, with an estimated budget absorption of IDR 8 trillion. To promote workforce inclusion, BGN plans to hire kitchen staff from families in extreme poverty and lower-income groups, ensuring that at least 30% of the staff in each SPPG come from economically vulnerable households. This initiative aims not only to improve the operational capacity of the program but also to uplift low-income communities and reduce extreme poverty.
Fithra views this as a strategic move that enhances program efficiency and empowers marginalized communities. The MBG Program is not only a nutritional initiative but also a driving force for economic growth and social development.
