Social Affairs Minister: Workshop for Persons with Disabilities Contributes in Realizing the President’s Work Priorities

CIBITUNG (16 December 2019) – The Social Affairs Minister Juliari P. Batubara put down the first brick for the construction of workshop special for person with disability. The Minister appreciated the private participation as the real step to realize the two of five priorities program of the President Joko Widodo.

The President’s two priorities, according to the Social Affairs Minister, was on the development of Infrastructure and superior human resource. The infrastructure development for the workshop such as building infrastructure, road, electricity, etc. Then, because of the workshop was for disability empowerment, it was along with the theme of International Disability Day, which was “Indonesia is Inclusive, the Disability is Superior”.

“This Metland’s Initiative is a real contribution in empowering the persons with disabilities, which now is reaching at 21 million persons in Indonesia. To empower them, the country needs support from everyone including the local government and of course from the private. The development of ability hub, in my thoughts, is the first in Asia and I hope that the other business can follow,” said the Minister, in his speech on “The First Groundbreaking for Ability Hub” in Metland Industrial Area, Cibitung, Bekasi Regency, Monday (16/12/2019).

The special workshop for person with disability was built by PT Metropolitan Land Tbk through the Metropolitan Care Foundation (YMP). For the next time, YMP would provide area and building for workshop which was called as “ability hub” on the Metland Project Area Cibitung, in Cibitung, Bekasi Regency.

The Minister assessed that the workshop development was an innovative and real step on preparing the social entrepreneurship. The Minister hoped that this plan would bring big benefits for not only the person with disability but for the public in general.

According to the Minister, the workshop ability hub became the alternative for superior human resource of disability development. “With their skill, the products which was produced by them will fulfill the market’s need. For this case, the Hotel industry and Metland partner company will help promoting the products,” said the Minister.

In the future, the Ministry of Social Affairs hoped that ability hub would become one of the examples of national production center for disability for neighboring countries which had the same challenges related to disability.

The Ministry of Social Affairs did not forget to talk about the private involvement which would have important role in supporting the country’s presence on fulfilling the rights on person with disability. In this case, Metland Cibitung had contributed on developing the ability hub through provided the land.

“We want to say thank you to the Metland Cibitung for their support towards the government’s program. It is the long-term investment, Sir. Insya Allah for the life and afterlife. Thus, do not count for the time when the investment will give return,” said the Minister of Social Affairs.

The Human Resource of Ministry of Social Affairs is Ready
On the same opportunity, the Director General of Social Rehabilitation stated that the Ministry of Social Affairs had not counted how many the human resource would help running this workshop. However, the MoSA ensured that they had competent human resource which could be put in the ability hub.

“We have qualified human resource which needed on this workshop. From the trainer qualification to the craftsman. We are ready to help,” said Edi.

With 12 kinds of products needed to be produce from the workshop, Edi stated on the preparedness. “For those 12 working units, I think that the Ministry of Social Affairs can support it,” said Edi.

This workshop development chose one of the clusters in Metland Cibitung Area for the location with the total area of the building is 1.451 square meters and the land area of 4.862 square meters.

There would be built as many as 12 business type which involved persons with disabilities. The Metropolitan Care Foundation (YMP) helped from the infrastructures provision, training, until the marketing.

The business type which would be developed consisted of creating prosthetic foot or hand, hotel amenities, souvenir or goodie bag, souvenir products, educational equipment, batik, garment, screen printing, painting and graphics, foods and beverages, stationary, etc.

The goal of the ability hub development was to provide a place for persons with disabilities to channel their skills, produce the craft items, and consumption. Moreover, it was purposed to help the product marketing by person with disability.

The YMP’s step was along with the government’s spirit, including the Ministry of Social Affairs, on developing the inclusive public environment towards the person with disability. On the past opportunity, the Social Affairs Minister pointed out that people should not see a person’s disability but pointed on their ability.

The Secretary General Hartono Laras, Director General of Social Rehabilitation Edi Suharto, Director General of Social Empowerment Pepen Nazaruddin, The President Director of PT. Metropolitan Land Tbk. Thomas JA, Commissioner of PT. Metropolitan Land Tbk. Nanda Widya, Head of HKSN 2019 Krisbudiharjo.

Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau
Ministry of Social Affairs Republic of Indonesia
Sonny W Manalu