Launch of Indonesia Business and Disability Network (IBDN) and Signing of Declaration of Commitment on Employment for People with Disabilities

The launch marks the reformation of IBDN in order to attract new members and keep the Network active and to expand its collaboration with relevant organizations.

Background

The International Labour Organization (ILO) strives to achieve Decent Work for all, including persons with disabilities. It advocates for equal opportunities and treatment for persons with disabilities in the world of work and addresses the barriers that hamper the access of persons with disabilities to decent work. The ILO has worked for decades to promote skills development and employment opportunities for people with disabilities based on the principles of equal opportunities, equal treatment, and mainstreaming vocational rehabilitation.

With the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2011, Indonesia enacted the Disability Law No. 8/2016. The most salient feature of the Law is the integration of the rights of persons with disabilities as inseparable from the equal rights of all members of the human family as defined in the UNCRPD. Since the enactment of the Law, line ministries have drafted seven implementing regulations, which are at varying stages of legislative process. For instance, the regulations no.20/2020 on Employment Service Unit for People with Disabilities which has just been issued in October 2020

Indonesia Business and Disability Network (IBDN)

The Indonesia Business and Disability Network (IBDN) is a voluntary group of like-minded organizations with the shared aim of promoting employment opportunities for people with disabilities. It promotes an inclusive, conducive and equal working environment. The IBDN was launched on 16 December 2016 in Jakarta by 5 companies as the founding members: PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk., PT L’Oréal Indonesia, PT Standard Chartered Indonesia, PT TetraPak Stainless Engineering and PT Trans Retail Indonesia. A joint declaration of commitment was signed by the founding members, witnessed by the then Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia and the then Country Director of the International Labour Office for Indonesia and Timor Leste. The IBDN is part of the ILO Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN).

In April 2020, member companies decided to re-vitalise the Network to meet today’s challenges and tasked the ILO Jakarta Office to achieve the goal as the Secretariat of the Network. Based on consultation with existing members, the IBDN reforms its organization in order to attract new members and keep the Network active. Reforms include:
  • The IBDN seeks partnerships with the Ministry of Manpower and APINDO in order to mobilise support from a wider society.
  • The governance of IBDN is clarified with a new structure (i.e. Steering Committee and Secretariat) and defined roles and responsibilities of members.
  • IBDN strengthens its function as a knowledge-sharing platform and a hub for awareness raising.
  • IBDN principles and member guide are updated to formalize the Network.

Objectives of the event

The IBDN Secretariat proposes an online re-launch event of the IBDN to achieve the following objectives:
  1. Commemorating the UN International Day for Persons with Disabilities;
  2. Formally announce the re-launch the Indonesia Business and Disability Network to the public, raise awareness and mobilise support for employment of workers with disabilities;
  3. Commemorate the signing of a joint declaration of commitment by the Ministry of Manpower, APINDO and the IBDN; and
  4. Encourage like-minded organizations to join the Network.