The Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) has not only provided nutritional benefits for students, pregnant women, and toddlers but has also made a significant economic impact. With the implementation of the program, 94,000 jobs have been created within 2,391 Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) nationwide. As the number of SPPG units expanded, so did the employment figures, from 7,000 in January to 94,000 by the end of July.
The budget allocation for the program 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), noted that the MBG program has had a positive impact on the real economy, particularly in terms of job creation.
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) projects that by August, the program will have 20 million beneficiaries through 8,000 operational SPPG units, with an expected budget absorption of IDR 8 trillion. To promote workforce inclusion, BGN plans to recruit kitchen staff from families in extreme poverty and lower-income groups.
Fithra sees this initiative as a strategic step to reduce extreme poverty and strengthen the operational capacity of the program. The goal is not only to provide nutritious meals but also to empower low-income communities through job opportunities and economic growth.
