Jakarta (ANTARA) – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has called on companies to cover 20–30 percent of the allowances for participants in the second phase of the National Internship Program.“We are asking companies to share the burden. Around 20–30 percent of the allowance should be covered by corporations,” Airlangga said on the sidelines of the Jakarta Globe Insight event in Jakarta on Tuesday.He noted that during the first phase, the government fully covered participants’ allowances. For the second phase, however, companies are expected to contribute.“Burden sharing is something we must encourage. Previously, it was 100 percent funded by the government,” he said.Meanwhile, Manpower Minister Yassierli has officially closed the first phase of the 2025 National Internship Program, which ran from Oct. 20, 2025, to April 19, 2026.Following a comprehensive selection process, 14,952 participants were selected for Phase 1A and 1,160 for Phase 1B, bringing the total to 16,112 participants.Over time, the number of active participants declined, with 11,110 remaining in Phase 1A and 839 in Phase 1B, for a total of 11,949 active participants in the first batch.Participants who complete the six-month program will receive an internship certificate, while those who participate for more than three months but less than six months will be awarded a letter of completion.Yassierli said the government is currently reviewing proposals to split allowance contributions between the state and partner companies, citing the significant mentoring provided by companies.“We are studying ways to involve companies more actively. There is already a proposal for shared contributions, although companies will not be the dominant contributor,” he said.