Disabled Persons in Brebes Receive Vocational Training

The opportunity to live independently and obtain decent work remains a challenge for many people with disabilities in Indonesia, despite their equal potential to develop, create, and contribute to society. Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) shows the workforce participation rate for disabled persons is still relatively low. The Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) recorded that only 702 disabled persons secured job placements through the Disability Services Unit (ULD) in 2023. One root cause is that ULDs currently exist in only 28 provinces, or 73.7 percent of the total 38 provinces. At the regency and city level, only 179 ULDs have been established, covering just 34.82 percent of the total 514 regencies and cities. Consequently, many disabled individuals possess skills but are hindered by minimal access to training and formal employment opportunities. This limitation is considered a key factor hampering their economic independence. To address this challenge, PT Bank Mandiri Taspen and PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) Tegal Branch are undertaking various empowerment efforts to open more equitable access. This spirit underpins the Disability Vocational Programme held at the Islamic Centre Building in Brebes over the coming week. The programme is part of a joint endeavour by the two state-owned companies to expand opportunities for vulnerable groups to become economically independent. It does so by providing relevant skills training that can lead to better job prospects. One goal of this vocational skills training is to ensure disabled persons are not merely aid recipients but can also earn their own income, either through formal employment or independent entrepreneurship. Another objective is to serve as a bridge for labour supply and demand, with Bank Mandiri Taspen and PNM acting as intermediaries. On the supply side, they train disabled persons until they are competent and certified. On the demand side, they connect disabled persons with garment or footwear companies requiring operators. This aligns with the ‘job intermediation’ mission, a function of the Ministry of Manpower’s ULD, while also supporting an inclusive education ecosystem. For Bank Mandiri Taspen and PNM, the programme represents a concrete effort to prepare job-ready human resources, similar to the ongoing collaboration between Bank Mandiri Taspen and Gadjah Mada University (UGM). A total of 30 participants from disabled communities in Brebes Regency and surrounding areas are attending sewing skills training under a Shoe Stitching Operator scheme facilitated by Ruang Amal Indonesia. Over the week, participants receive technical instruction tailored to industry needs. Agus Suyana, Head of Bank Mandiri Taspen Pekalongan Branch, said the training scheme was deliberately chosen given that the footwear industry in Indonesia, particularly in West Java and Banten, urgently requires skilled workers who can be trained quickly. “Shoe stitching is a specific technical skill with minimal risk and limited range of motion, making it suitable for disabled persons, both physically and motorically impaired. We hope that once skilled, they can be immediately absorbed by MSMEs and industry,” Agus said in Brebes, Central Java. Sutanto, Head of PNM Tegal Branch, stated that sustainable empowerment must reach all levels of society, including disabled persons who still face various barriers in accessing the world of work. “Every person has the potential to develop 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, creative, and improve their quality of life. We believe inclusive empowerment will create broader benefits for society,” Sutanto said. After completing the training, participants will undergo a job placement process with shoe industry companies operating in the Brebes area. This programme aligns with the spirit of empowerment that has long been carried out in assisting underprivileged communities. PNM is known for its various empowerment programmes for women and ultra-micro business actors. This initiative expands that reach by providing capacity-building access for disabled persons so they have equal opportunities to grow independently. For Bank Mandiri Taspen, this effort also reduces social risk in the bank’s operational areas, including Brebes. For the participants, the training represents new hope for a better future, not merely a space for learning skills. “We have often felt that job opportunities are limited. Through this training, we gain new knowledge and confidence that we are also capable of working and creating. Hopefully, after this training, we can get jobs and help our families,” said one participant of the Disability Vocational Programme. Through this collaboration, Bank Mandiri Taspen and PNM are striving to deliver empowerment that leaves no one behind. Behind every limitation, there is always potential that can grow when opportunities are opened and support is provided. This vocational programme is expected to be a small step that brings real change for participants, moving towards a more independent, productive, and empowered life.