Jakarta – The government has officially launched 17 economic stimulus packages for the 2025–2026 period as an effort to achieve growth targets and strengthen the competitiveness of the national workforce. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto explained that the program had been discussed with President Prabowo Subianto during a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
“The meeting with the President discussed a policy we call the 2025 economic package program,” Airlangga said in a press statement.
According to Airlangga, the 17 stimulus packages are divided into eight accelerated programs in 2025, four continuation programs in 2026, and five priority programs for workforce absorption.
“We want new graduates to be able to adapt immediately to industry needs. This includes providing them with paid internship programs so they can be quickly absorbed by industry,” he said.
In addition, the government is expanding the scope of the Government-Paid Article 21 Income Tax (DTP) incentive. Previously targeted only at labor-intensive sectors, it has now been expanded to include the hotel, restaurant, and catering sectors. Protection for freelance workers is also a focus, with plans to expand social security coverage to include unemployment and death benefits for informal workers, including online motorcycle taxi drivers.
“We are currently preparing a technical mechanism so that the state can cover part of the contributions,” Airlangga explained.
The stimulus also targets improving BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (Employment Social Security Agency) facilities to support housing financing, both for home ownership and renovation. Labor-intensive programs in the transportation and housing sectors will also be implemented through a cash-for-work scheme, which will absorb a significant workforce.
“We’re currently preparing the total value. We’ll finalize it in a follow-up meeting,” Airlangga added.
From a regulatory perspective, the government is preparing to accelerate the implementation of Government Regulation Number 28 of 2025, which will take effect on October 5. This regulation emphasizes the deregulation of business licensing through the Online Single Submission (OSS) system to create greater business certainty.
Transportation observer and Civil Engineering Academic at Soegijapranata Catholic University, Djoko Setijowarno, assessed that the stimulus is highly relevant, especially to support public transportation drivers who have been facing a decline in income.
“This program is very relevant for urban and rural transportation drivers, as well as AKDP, AKAP, AJAP/travel drivers who have long faced the problem of insufficient income, similar to what online motorcycle taxi drivers experience,” he said.
With a broad program coverage, spanning from fresh graduates to informal workers, the government is optimistic that this stimulus package will be a crucial instrument for strengthening the national economy and maintaining people’s purchasing power heading into 2026.
