Companies join the fight for inclusive workplaces with Indonesia Business and Disability Network

Around 75 multinational and national companies and relevant institutions joined and registered as new members of the Indonesia Business and Disability Network (IBDN), during the relaunched of the IBDN on 3 December. The relaunch of the IBDN was conducted in conjunction with the commemoration of the International Day for People with Disabilities, attended by 375 viewers.

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."

They are also committed to foster efforts aimed at preparing the business sector to be more inclusive, facilitate active roles and preparedness of people with disabilities to work, carry out merit-based recruitment of people with disabilities using mechanism that are equal and friendly with diversity and encourage creative programmes that can improve both company’s competitiveness and the independence of people with disabilities.

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

The re-launch of the IBDN was marked with the signing of joint commitment by the IBDN (represented by the ILO), the Ministry of Manpower and the Indonesia Employers’ Association (Apindo). The joint commitment also highlights the collaboration among government, private sector and relevant organizations to advance the rights of people with disabilities, upholds non-discrimination principles and advocates equal opportunities and treatment.

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

Ida Fauziyah, Minister of Manpower, greatly supported the revitalization of the IBDN as the network would complement and strengthen the inclusive initiatives taken by the Ministry. “This is a great step forward for Indonesia towards the creation of inclusive workplaces. 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,” stated the Manpower Minister in her remarks.

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

A similar support was also given by Angkie Yudistia, Presidential Special Staff, by highlighting nine regulations issued by the current government to promote inclusivity and diversity for people with disabilities in all aspects of life. “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’s development process.”

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

Michiko Miyamoto, ILO Country Director for Indonesia who also acts as the representative of the IBDN, stated that people with disabilities have tremendous potential that they can offer to help companies achieving their targets. However, each company still acts solely on their own without one common platform to share best practices that can benefit both the employer and employee.

“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.