The date of 11 December 2015 marked an important step in the elimination of discrimination against people with disabilities in the workplace. The Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Placement and Vocational Training for People with Disabilities at the State-Owned Enterprises.

The MoU stated that the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises is obliged to provide equal job opportunities and treatment, provide accessible facilities and other work supports needed by and conduct vocational trainings for workers with disabilities. Meanwhile, Ministry of Manpower is obliged to provide information on job opportunities, facilitate internship, facilitate placement, monitor the placement and conduct sensitization programmes on issues related disabilities at the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises.

“The MoU is a concrete action that will provide equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Companies have many positive experiences hiring and retaining people with disabilities. They are often most diligent, loyal and productive,” said Hanif Dhakiri, Ministry of Manpower, commenting the signing of the MoU.

Meanwhile Rini Sumarno, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, stated that with the signing of the MoU, state-owned companies could provide positive examples for other companies so that more companies would open their doors for people with disabilities. “We all need to provide equal employment for people with disabilities. They have the same rights with other workers,” she emphasized.

The signing of MoU was witnessed by representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Directors of State-Owned Enterprises, Disabled Persons’ Organizations (DPOs), relevant government agencies, private sector and so forth.