Social Affairs Minister Welcomes Workshop Development Plan for Persons with Disabilities

BEKASI (December 7, 2019) – The Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara welcomed the workshop development plan for persons with disabilities. This workshop would start the ground breaking on the middle of December.

The workshop for persons with disabilities would be built by PT. Metropolitan Land Tbk. Through the Metropolitan Care Foundation (YMP). Soon, YMP would provide the field and the building for this workshop which would be called as “ability hub” in Metland Cibitung Project Area.

“I am welcoming the ground breaking plan which is called the ability hub for our disability friends. So, there will be a specific cluster built in here. This will be the first in Indonesia,” said the Minister on the Launching event of Blood Donation Month on National Social Solidarity Day (HKSN) 2019 in Bekasi, Saturday (07/12/2019).

The Minister’s statement was responding to statement from the Head of HKSN Central Committee’s Kris Budiharjo, in the press conference a moment before. The Minister appreciated the business’s real action to provide an opportunity for persons with disabilities to develop the productive business.

“This is an Innovative step. I hope that this plan will bring as much benefit as possible towards not only for persons with disabilities but also towards the public in general,” said the Minister.

On the same opportunity, Kris Budiharjo stated that the workshop development chose one of the clusters in Metland Cibitung Area with the total area of 1.451 square meters and the field area of 4.862 square meters.

“There will be 12 type of business which involves persons with disabilities. The Foundation will help to provide infrastructures, training, until the market,” Kris said.

Would the ability hub accommodate several persons with disabilities? “We will wait the decision from MoSA’s,” Kris said.

The example of business type which would be developed was creating fake hand/foot, hotel facilities, goodie bag, souvenir craft, educational equipment, batik, garment, screen printing, paint and graphics, food and beverage, work equipment, etc.

This business step, according to Kris, was a real action of supporting the persons with disabilities. “The ability hub development is based on the consideration of empowerment, self-improvement, and provide social space for persons with disabilities,” he said.

The goals were to provide a place for persons with disabilities to channel their skills, producing the craft items, and consumption. “Then, the goal is to help put the product on the market,” Kris said.

YMP’s progress was in line with the government’s spirit, including the Ministry of Social Affairs in developing the inclusive environment for persons with disabilities. On the past opportunity, the Social Affairs Minister pointed out that public were not supposed to see their disability, but on the ability.

In the commemoration of International Disability Day (HDI) on 2019, the Social Affairs Minister delivered messages several times that people had to erase the discrimination towards the persons with disabilities. Included in it, by providing the access to productive sectors.

The Minister asked the business to provide 1 percent of the employee for the persons with disabilities. Meanwhile on the Ministries and government institutions’ environment, it should be allocated as much as 2 percent from the total capacity of employee.

Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau
The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs
Sonny W Manalu