Jakarta, INTI - The government continues to promote the growth and development of the manufacturing industry as a key driver and pillar of the national economy, including through the creation of sustainable employment opportunities.
Beyond the job, inclusivity has also become a central concern, particularly openness and equal access to employment for all segments of society without exception, including persons with disabilities, so they can actively participate in the development of the national industrial sector.
Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita stated that strengthening the manufacturing sector must go hand in hand with the principles of social justice and inclusivity, given the sector’s strategic role in absorbing the national workforce.
“Therefore, the Ministry of Industry is committed to ensuring that industrial development also provides equal participation opportunities for persons with disabilities, so they can contribute productively and independently within the national industrial ecosystem,” the Minister said in a statement on Monday, February 2, 2026.
In line with this commitment, the Directorate General of Small, Medium, and Miscellaneous Industries (IKMA) collaborated with startup Top Loker (TopLoker.com) to organize the activity titled ‘Developing Manufacturing Sector Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities’ at the State Special Needs School (SLB) in Semarang on January 28, 2026.
Director General of IKMA Reni Yanita explained that the initiative represents a tangible collaboration between the government and the business sector to expand inclusive employment access for persons with disabilities in strategic industrial sectors.
“Together with the startup Top Loker, we initiated this activity as a platform that opens opportunities and pathways for our friends with disabilities to work, create, and participate in the industrial sector,” Reni said.
As of August 2025, the Ministry of Industry recorded that employment in the manufacturing sector reached 20.26 million workers, accounting for approximately 13.83 percent of the total national workforce. Guided by the principle of inclusivity, the manufacturing sector is expected to play a greater role in engaging workers with disabilities.
However, Reni noted that access for persons with disabilities to the manufacturing sector still faces several challenges, including limited access to job information, competency gaps relative to industry needs, a lack of formal partnership networks, and work environments that are not yet fully inclusive.
“This activity is carried out to increase the absorption of workers with disabilities in the industrial sector while also opening access to cooperation between Special Needs Schools and the manufacturing industry,” Reni said. Through this initiative, students with disabilities at the senior high school level or equivalent are expected to better understand industry competency requirements, enabling them to adapt to the standards and expectations of the professional workplace.
In addition, the initiative aims to build sustainable partnership networks among special needs education institutions, students with disabilities, and the business sector, particularly within the manufacturing industry.
A total of 45 twelfth-grade students with disabilities from state special needs schools across eight regencies and cities in Central Java had the opportunity to engage directly with 24 manufacturing companies representing the agro-industry, electronics, textiles and textile products, and miscellaneous industries in the Central Java region.
“Manufacturing companies will engage in direct discussions and establish ongoing communication with disability groups accompanied by SLB Negeri Semarang and Top Loker,” Reni added.
Direct Industry Engagement to Bridge Skills and Employment
The Director General of IKMA emphasized that the manufacturing sector requires diligent, detail-oriented, consistent, and loyal work attitudes, qualities that are often key strengths of persons with disabilities. According to her, inclusivity in the industrial sector is not merely about regulatory compliance, but also a valuable investment in human resources that supports productivity and long-term industrial sustainability.
As the first-place winner of the Ministry of Industry’s Startup for Industry Program in 2022, Top Loker provides a dedicated platform designed to connect persons with disabilities with employment opportunities in the manufacturing sector.
“We want more industry players to care and open opportunities for persons with disabilities to work and grow,” said Top Loker CEO Josep Teguh Santoso, who is also the Rector of Stekom University in Semarang.
The Manufacturing Sector Inclusion Development Program for Persons with Disabilities is also supported by SLB Negeri Semarang, the Central Java Provincial Office of Industry and Trade, and Stekom University, ensuring the sustainability of collaboration between the education sector and industry.
Conclusion
The Manufacturing Sector Inclusion Development Program for Persons with Disabilities demonstrates how cross-sector collaboration can translate inclusivity into tangible workforce outcomes. By connecting special needs education institutions, industry players, and digital platforms, the initiative strengthens human capital development while promoting a more productive, resilient, and sustainable manufacturing ecosystem in Indonesia.
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