The Ministry of Manpower, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), launched a comprehensive entrepreneurship capacity-building program on 10 September 2025, aimed at empowering people with disabilities, the elderly, vulnerable women, and at-risk youth. The initiative, held at the Ministry's Job Market Opportunity Center (Balai Perluasan Kesempatan Kerja/BPKK) in Bekasi, gathered around 200 participants, including 30 people with disabilities, reflecting the government's commitment to inclusive economic growth.
Importantly, this program was initiated at the request of the Ministry of Manpower to the ILO, as part of its broader 2025 Entrepreneurship Service Program. The Ministry sought ILO's technical support to design the training, ensuring that international best practices in enterprise development and inclusive finance were integrated into the national effort to empower vulnerable groups.
We believe opportunities must be inclusive, everyone deserves equal chances to contribute and thrive.
Yassierli, Manpower Minister
Minister of Manpower Yassierli officially opened the training, emphasizing that entrepreneurship plays a critical role not only in providing livelihoods but also in strengthening communities and driving national development.
"We believe opportunities must be inclusive, everyone deserves equal chances to contribute and thrive," added Minister Yassierli.
The training equips participants with practical knowledge in business management, marketing, and financial literacy. Beyond classroom learning, it offers ongoing mentorship, business matching opportunities, and facilitation of access to capital and markets, ensuring participants can sustain and grow their enterprises.
"This initiative complements our broader efforts under the Promise II Impact project to create more inclusive financial ecosystems and strengthen MSMEs' capacity across Indonesia. By supporting vulnerable groups to develop viable businesses, we help promote decent work, enterprise growth, and financial inclusion," said Djauhari Sitorus, ILO's Promise II Impact Project Manager.
Participants also shared personal testimonies about how the training is already influencing their business outlook.
Siti Nuraeni, an elderly participant who runs a vegetable farming business, said, "From this training, I learned how to develop my business, manage marketing strategies, workload, and finances. It gives me the confidence to grow further."
Another participant, Tati Sukanti, who operates a small boarding house, highlighted how the program empowers older entrepreneurs. "This training helps elderly workers remain productive and independent. It means I don't have to depend on my children, I can run my own business," she explained.
For participants with disabilities, the training offered not just technical knowledge but also recognition. One entrepreneur who runs a flower bouquet business proudly shared that her products were purchased and appreciated by Minister Yassierli during the event, a symbolic gesture reinforcing that businesses led by people with disabilities can be competitive and valuable.
This initiative reflects the ILO's commitment to fostering inclusive entrepreneurship alongside Indonesia.
