The clock shows the time 10 minutes before 7am when Rizka Feryani Ciptaningrum, 30 years old, arrives at Uniqlo store at Lotte Shopping Avenue, Kuningan, Jakarta, where she has worked for four years. She starts her daily work routines with cleaning up the storage room, maintaining stock products, registering new products and, recently being given a new responsibility, arranging new products at in-store displays.

“I would also greet the customers or sometimes even help them looking for the product sizes and colours that they need if I have a chance to interact with customers while arranging new products,” said Rizka, smiling.

A high-school graduate from school for students with special needs (SLB), Rizka is one of the four staff with intellectual disabilities employed by Uniqlo Indonesia. Nur Huda Astari, staff of Uniqlo’s human resource department for recruitment and sustainability, said that due to her improving working performance, the company has trusted Rizka to perform tasks at the front-floor, dealing with product arrangement and customers.

Nur continued that, at UNIQLO, we believe that it is extremely important to provide additional value to society across all of our operations around the world. Every UNIQLO store embodies this conviction by employing skilled individuals who can provide value to customers and society. People with disabilities are no exception. To date, Uniqlo Indonesia has employed a total of nine workers with disabilities.

“UNIQLO is looking to strengthen the opportunities for people with disabilities worldwide by providing equal employment opportunities for workers with disabilities. Our mission is to make the world a better place, and this in part means creating unique business activities that ca contribute to a sense of fulfillment in people’s lives. In addition, we also witness improvements in our customer services and our store teams as we have become more aware about how to provide good services for all of customers,” she said.

She also denies the concerns saying that hiring people with disabilities is expensive and increase the labour costs of the company. Uniqlo Indonesia has used the same training programmes and tools for all of its workers, including workers with disabilities.

“We only have to improvise the programmes and tools by using simpler terms and languages as well as more practical examples. No additional costs are needed and no special training instructors are required,” explained Nur.

As a store manager, Astrid Astari is appraised the working performance and commitment of workers with disabilities. “Under my supervision, Rizka’s attendance record is impressive. She is always in time and is never late. She also has a strong attention to her tasks and a high working commitment. These capacities have motivated her other fellow workers to show the same commitment,” stated Astrid who has been a store manager for three years.

In addition, according to Astrid, Rizka always consults her supervisor if she has any doubts about how to do her works properly. “She also routinely reports what she has done and what she would do next. It is very helpful for me as her supervisor,” she added.

"I like working here. I learn a lot about product knowledge so that I can explain to the customers," Rizka said. She also learns about store layout, display colour order and stocking. "Before I was nervous and had to make a lot of notes. Now, I just listen and I remember," she continued, cheerfully.

She is now able to help her parents. “They are happy that I have a job. I give my parents some of my salary to pay for the electricity and food. I save the rest to buy a car,” she said.

Her other dream is to be a role model for other friends at the Special Olympics Indonesia where she has actively involved since her younger years as an outstanding table tennis athlete who won a gold medal in the 2007 World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. “My friends always ask me when they can get jobs like me. I hope that my friends can get jobs too,” she expressed her hope.

Anastasia R. Pujiastuti, A Volunteer who acts as National Coordinator Athlete Leadership of the Special Olympics Indonesia, said that Rizka has transformed into a confident, assertive and knowledgeable woman. “She has transformed from a shy and quiet person into a confident woman talking about product knowledge and store-layout. Having a job means that Rizka and her friends get the opportunity to be out there and make an accomplishment for themselves,” she asserted.

Recognizing the good work of Special Olympics Indonesia with UNIQLO in promoting equal employment opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities, the ILO documents this best practice as it is in line with the long standing commitment of the ILO in promoting decent work for people with disabilities, including people with intellectual disabilities.

People with disabilities, particularly people with intellectual disabilities, are recognized as among the most vulnerable groups in Indonesia, facing discrimination in access to such as education, skills training and, employment. This best practice is an important mean to inspire and encourage other companies to tap the market and talent pool of people with intellectual disabilities by opening doors for them to gain formal and decent employment.

Work is central to people’s well-being. People with disabilities can and want to be productive members of the society. Let’s give them a chance.