Venturing into Economic Empowerment
Evermos is taking a bold step forward, folks. This Bandung-based platform is teaming up with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to extend a hand to those who need it most—Indonesia's vulnerable groups. You talk about turning the tides for folks often overlooked in the economic landscape, this alliance aims to do just that.
Paving a Digital Pathway
Let's face it, the labor scene isn't always kind to everyone. The labor force participation among persons with disabilities was sitting at a pitiful 20% in early 2025. For comparison, non-disabled folks hit around 70%. Now, Evermos and ILO reckon a digital business model could flip the script here. With just a smartphone sans hefty initial investments, anyone, be it a returnee migrant worker or a person with a disability, could kickstart their entrepreneurial journey.
"We see digital business as a bridge to lower the barriers to economic access for persons with disabilities and returning migrant workers," says Iqbal Muslimin, Evermos' Chief of Sustainability.
Training and Mentoring for the Win
The collaboration isn't all talk and no action. Since its inception back in 2023, over 230 folks have reaped the benefits of the comprehensive program that traverses several cities. March 2026 saw Evermos, the ILO, and the Migrant Worker Resource Centre (MRC) deliver digital entrepreneurship training for returning migrant workers in Cirebon, West Java, while a similar initiative ran in Yogyakarta, focusing on inclusive empowerment for persons with disabilities.
Equipping Vulnerable Groups for the Digital Age
- Participants got familiar with the Evermos app and digital marketing techniques.
- Strengthening entrepreneurial mindsets was front and center.
- WhatsApp Business became a go-to tool for budding digital endeavors.
The kicker is the financial literacy module offered by the ILO, which is a game-changer for these new entrepreneurs.
Long-Term Vision for Inclusive Growth
Arip Tirta, President of Evermos, sums it up: "For us, digital transformation also becomes meaningful when it reaches vulnerable groups, those furthest from the information they need to empower themselves economically. Through Evermos, a person with a disability or a migrant worker returning to their hometown can start a business with nothing more than a smartphone, without significant capital — and that is what truly inclusive empowerment looks like."
Djauhari Sitorus, Project Manager of Promise II Impact adds, "The conclusion of this series of activities is not the end of the participants' journey, but the beginning of their path as digital entrepreneurs."
A Model for Replication
In closing this chapter of the Promise II Impact project, Evermos and the ILO aren't just satisfied with immediate success. They're looking to replicate this model far and wide to really make inclusive economic growth a reality. By unlocking digital business avenues, these communities regain control over their economic destiny, paving a way for self-reliance and broader economic contribution.
A Platform Rooted in Empowerment
Evermos isn't a new kid on the block. Since its start in 2018, it's built a reselling giant comprising over a million resellers in Indonesia. Whether it's through regular business training or access to diverse halal products, they're about making sure no one’s left on the sidelines, regardless of gender or socioeconomic background. It's about giving people the tools to thrive, and Evermos, alongside the ILO, is doing their bit to ensure an economy that's open to all.
