Bank Mandiri Taspen and PNM Help Disabled Master Industry-Sought Skills

The opportunity to obtain decent work remains a challenge for many people with disabilities in Indonesia, despite their equal potential to develop, work, and contribute to economic activity. One persistent barrier is limited access to skills training and job placement services, leaving many capable individuals struggling to enter formal employment or develop independent businesses. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows the workforce participation rate for people with disabilities is still relatively low, while the Ministry of Manpower recorded that 702 disabled individuals secured job placements through Disability Service Units (ULD) throughout 2023. This challenge is compounded by the limited number of ULDs across regions, currently available in only 28 provinces, or about 73.7 per cent of the total, and in just 179 districts and cities, roughly 34.82 per cent of 514 areas. This situation makes skills training a crucial instrument for expanding job access for people with disabilities. Through industry-relevant training, participants gain not only technical abilities but also greater opportunities to enter the job market. On this basis, PT Bank Mandiri Taspen and PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) Tegal Branch organised a Disability Vocational Programme in Brebes Regency, Central Java, attended by 30 participants from local disabled communities. The training focused on shoe stitching skills under a Shoe Stitching Operator scheme facilitated by Ruang Amal Indonesia, with a week-long curriculum tailored to the footwear industry’s needs. Agus Suyana, Head of the Bank Mandiri Taspen Pekalongan Branch, explained that shoe stitching was chosen due to high labour demand in the industrial sector. ‘Shoe stitching is a specific technical skill with minimal risk and limited range of motion, making it suitable for people with physical or motor disabilities. We hope that once skilled, they can be immediately absorbed by SMEs and industry,’ Agus said. Beyond providing skills, the programme also connects participants with companies needing workers, ensuring the training leads to concrete job access. Sutanto, Head of PNM Tegal Branch, stated that people with disabilities need equal opportunities to develop their potential and improve their standard of living. ‘Everyone has the potential to grow if given the right opportunity and access. Through this programme, we hope participants not only gain skills but also have greater opportunities to be independent, productive, and improve their quality of life,’ Sutanto said. After completing the training, participants will undergo a job placement process with shoe industry companies operating in the Brebes area, a step expected to strengthen the link between skills training and industrial labour needs. For people with disabilities, access to training and employment is not just about income; it is also a path to greater independence, self-confidence, and broader participation in social and economic life.