Promoting inclusive workplaces in Indonesia
Companies join the fight for inclusive workplaces with Indonesia Business and Disability Network
Indonesia strengthen its commitment to develop inclusive world of work by revitalizing the Indonesia Business and Disability Network (IBDN). Around 75 companies have recently join the IBDN.
The majority of these companies (53.8 percent) have more than 200 employees, have already employed workers with disabilities (70.5 percent) and 72.3 percent of those that do not have any workers with disabilities yet (29.5 percent) are eager to recruit. The new registered companies and institutions, together with the five founding companies of the IBDN, share a similar mission to encourage business communities in Indonesia to be more inclusive and conducive to diversity.
The majority of these new registered companies (53.8 percent) have more than 200 employees, have already employed workers with disabilities (70.5 percent) and 72.3 percent of those that do not have any workers with disabilities yet (29.5 percent) are eager to recruit."
The IBDN was previously launched and established in 2016 by five founding companies: PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk., PT L’Oreal Indonesia, PT Standard Chartered Indonesia, PT TetraPak Stainless Engineering and PT Trans Retail Indonesia. New jointly companies, among other, include Burger King Indonesia, PT FWD Insurance, Alfamart, PT Martha Tilaar Group, PT Jotun and some garment companies under the ILO’s Better Work Indonesia.
Reaffirmed the commitment for stronger collaboration
This also marks a new reform era of the IBDN by renewing the inclusivity commitment for people with disabilities that is in line with the Law No. 8/2016 on People with Disabilities."
Ida Fauziyah, Minister of Manpower
These regulations provide a legal umbrella to support the country’s inclusive development and to guarantee the involvement of the society, including people with disabilities in the nation."
Angkie Yudistia, Presidential Special Staff
Meanwhile from the perspective of the private sector, Hariyadi Sukamdani, Chair of Apindo, reaffirmed the commitment of the private sector to address workplace inclusivity issues for equal employment opportunity for people with disabilities. “Through this network, we can showcase and convince other companies to learn from each other and to share good practices,” he said.
ILO support to the inclusive workplace
this network can become a forum for sharing and learning among employers to build an inclusive, conducive and equal working environment. In addition, people with disabilities can also become more aware of the chances that are available for them to develop career in the formal economy in accordance with their capabilities, interests and talents."
Michiko Miyamoto, ILO Country Director for Indonesia who also acts as the representative of the IBDN
“Therefore, this network can become a forum for sharing and learning among employers to build an inclusive, conducive and equal working environment. In addition, people with disabilities can also become more aware of the chances that are available for them to develop career in the formal economy in accordance with their capabilities, interests and talents,” said Michiko Miyamoto, Country Director of the ILO.
Not only from the ILO at the national level, similar support is also provided by the ILO at the global level through its Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN). “The ILO’s GBDN stand to support the IBDN in realizing inclusive workplaces in Indonesia through its 31 networks across the globe. We need more and more companies to continue showing more increased impact on inclusivity,” stated Esteban Tromel, ILO’s Senior Disability Specialist.
The 2020 data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reveals that there are around 17.74 million people with disabilities. Only 7.8 million of them enter the labour force. The labour force participation rate of people with disabilities is 44 percent, much lower compared to non-disabled people (69 percent). The number of open unemployment for people with disabilities has reached 247 thousands people, of whom 21 percent have lost their hopes in finding jobs. In addition, workers with disabilities receive lower salaries compared to non-disabled workers.