The Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) has shown significant economic impact besides providing nutrition to students, pregnant women, and toddlers. 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 increased as more SPPG units were established in different regions, rising from 7,000 workers in January to 94,000 by the end of July. Budget absorption has also increased 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), highlighted the program’s impact on job creation in the real economy, stating that it creates new economic opportunities for local communities. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) projects that the MBG Program will reach 20 million beneficiaries through 8,000 SPPG units by August, with a total budget absorption expected to reach IDR 8 trillion. To support workforce inclusion, BGN plans to recruit kitchen staff from families in extreme poverty and lower-income groups for SPPGs operations. Fithra sees this as a strategic measure to help reduce extreme poverty and empower low-income communities through the program’s operational capacity.
Economic Impact: MBG Program Creates 94,000 Jobs
