The Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) has not only provided nutritional benefits but also generated a significant economic impact. With 94,000 individuals employed in 2,391 Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) nationwide within seven months of implementation, the program has seen a steady increase in job creation as more SPPG units are established in various regions. Additionally, budget absorption has risen from IDR 1–2 trillion in the initial phase to IDR 5.1 trillion by the end of the first semester of 2025, reflecting 7.1% of the total IDR 71 trillion allocated for the program.
Senior Advisor Fithra Faisal from the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) highlighted the program’s positive impact on the real economy, particularly in terms of job opportunities for local communities. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) projects that the MBG Program will expand to serve 20 million beneficiaries through 8,000 operational SPPG units by August, with an expected total budget absorption of IDR 8 trillion. Furthermore, to promote workforce inclusion, BGN plans to recruit kitchen staff from families living in extreme poverty and lower-income groups, with at least 30% of staff members coming from economically vulnerable households.
Fithra emphasized that this strategy is crucial in reducing extreme poverty and strengthening the program’s operational capacity. By empowering low-income communities through employment opportunities, the MBG Program aims to create a sustainable economic impact while providing nutritious meals to those in need.
