Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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Commemoration of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities: Enhancing the inclusivity of people with disabilities in companies
People with disabilities are recognized as among the most vulnerable groups in Indonesia, facing discrimination in access to such as education, skills training and, employment. Compared to non-disabled persons, they experience higher rates of unemployment and economic inactivity and are at greater risk of insufficient social protection that is a key to reducing extreme poverty.
JAKARTA (ILO News): People with disabilities are recognized as among the most vulnerable groups in Indonesia, facing discrimination in access to such as education, skills training and, employment. Compared to non-disabled persons, they experience higher rates of unemployment and economic inactivity and are at greater risk of insufficient social protection that is a key to reducing extreme poverty.
Based on the Constitution of Indonesia, people with disabilities have the same rights to welfare through decent work and life as mentioned in the Article 27 (2) of the 1945 Constitution that every citizen has the right to work and to live in human dignity. This is in line with the Act No. 19/2011 regarding the deliberation of the Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities (CRPD) which demonstrates a concrete commitment from the Indonesian government in fulfilling rights of persons with disabilities.
Private companies have many positive experiences hiring and retaining people with disabilities. They are often most diligent, loyal and productive. ILO would like to keep sharing these positive experiences with other companies and government institutions."
Michiko Miyamoto, Deputy Director of the ILO in Indonesia
Under the government of President Joko Widodo, nine governmental priority agendas (Nawacita) states that the presence of the state is to protect the nation and to give a sense of security to all citizens. This has been manifested through the priority agendas (Nawa Kerja) of the Ministry of Manpower with affirmative actions to minimize the impact of discrimination against certain groups/minority groups.
In the midst of discrimination issues against people with disabilities, enterprises have realized that disability inclusion makes good business sense. Top enterprises have found people with disabilities as untapped human resources. Many of these companies are learning that people with disabilities are productive and that they bring many benefits to the workplace. They also shape a more authentic, loyal and creative culture.
To further enhance the inclusivity of people with disabilities in Indonesian business, the Ministry of Manpower in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) will organize a Forum called Indonesia Business and Disability Network in Jakarta on 1 December 2015. The Forum is conducted in conjunction with the commemoration of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities which falls on 3 December.
The Forum is dedicated for the Indonesian employers to discuss and share experience on tapping the market and talent pool of persons with disabilities. Therefore, the Forum is aimed to increase awareness and understanding of state-owned and private enterprises on benefits of hiring and employing people with disabilities. The Forum is also aimed to strengthen networking and collaboration among Indonesian companies as means to enhance the employability and employment of women and men with disabilities in the private and public sector.
Michiko Miyamoto, Deputy Director of the ILO in Indonesia, stated that the ILO has a long standing commitment to promoting decent work for people with disabilities. “Private companies have many positive experiences hiring and retaining people with disabilities. They are often most diligent, loyal and productive. ILO would like to keep sharing these positive experiences with other companies and government institutions,” she said.
Two representatives from multinational companies from India and Singapore will share their experiences in building a successful inclusive programme at their companies. Representatives from Tata Consultancy Services Limited, India and Standard Chartered Bank of Singapore will share their lessons learnt and experiences together with some inclusive companies in Indonesia. It is hopes that the experiences shared will inspire more companies in Indonesia to do similar inclusive programmes at workplaces.
The Forum is organized by the Ministry of Manpower through Directorate General of Manpower Placement and Development and ILO through its Promoting Rights and Opportunities for People with Disabilities in Employment through Legislation (PROPEL) Project. The Project is aimed to promote Better work and employment opportunities created for men and women with disabilities, through the creation of an enabling legal and policy environment, the promotion of skills development opportunities and measures to eliminate discrimination.
People with disabilities make up an estimated one billion, or 15 per cent, of the world’s population. About 80 per cent are of working age. It is estimated that there are around 38 million of people with disabilities in Indonesia. They still face enormous attitudinal, physical and informational barriers to equal opportunities in the world of work.
