The COVID-19 pandemic has affected livelihoods of many people, but at the same time has given birth to new opportunities for people with disabilities. The new normal of working from home, flexible working hours and greater use of technology may provide better access and wider employment opportunities for people with disabilities, according to a webinar titled “The New Normal at the Workplace” held on 9 June.

Tendy Gunawan, ILO’s Programme Officer for Inclusive Workplace, participated as a resource person together with Angkie Yudistia, Special Staff and Spokesperson on Social Issues for the President of Indonesia and Wulan Guritno, a celebrity and an entrepreneur. The interactive discussion was moderated by Adelina Simatupang, technical adviser for inclusive employment from the Humanity and Inclusion.

Tendy emphasized the urgency for relevant stakeholders to make the best use of the new normal opportunity for the benefits of people with disabilities and to realize an inclusive workplace in the country. “The ability to work from home can greatly benefit people with disabilities as the majority of them find it difficult or costly to travel outside the home. Thus, if employers continue to allow work from home mechanism after the pandemic, it could potentially open the job market for people with disabilities who may have previously struggled to get employment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Angkie highlight the greater usage of technology also opens a wider employment door for people with disabilities. This was also linked with government’s programmes such as pre-work card programme that provide an opportunity to learn and gain new skills. “During this COVID-19 pandemic, the government is focused on revitalize the economy and we encourage the soceity, including communities of people with disabilities, to focus on online entrepreneurship,” she exclaimed.

In terms of employing people with disabilities, Wulan admitted that entertainment industry has not yet opened its door for people with disabilities. Prejudices that people with disabilities have lack of working ability have built barriers for people with disabilities entering the industry. “The key is we have to develop a bridge between people with disabilities and non-disabilities. We need to break the barriers by providing more rooms for discussions, communications and knowledge sharing,” Wulan stated.

The interactive discussion concluded with the agreement from the panels to continue promoting inclusivity and making the best use of the opportunity to open greater access for people with disabilities to employment. This was also in line with the ILO Brief on disability released in early June: “COVID-19 and the World of Work: Ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities at all stages of the response".

The brief highlights the way that the pre-existing inequalities facing people with disabilities also increases the threat to their lives and livelihoods posed by COVID-19. However, it also points out how the virus opens up a chance to change this. Post-pandemic, a ‘new normal’ can also be a “better normal” – in both developing and developed countries – if it only fully includes and respects the opinions, needs and rights of persons with disabilities.