Promoting inclusive workplaces

Indonesia Business and Disability Network (IBDN) encourages corporations to promote diversity and inclusivity in the workplace

Coinciding with the month of Disability Awareness this December, five companies have agreed to sign a commitment and establish the Indonesia Business & Disability Network (IBDN) that aims at promoting diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.

Press release | Jakarta, Indonesia | 16 December 2016
The Launch of the Indonesia Business and Disability Network, presenting representatives of the five companies, the Ministry of Manpower and the ILO
JAKARTA (Joint Press Release) - Coinciding with the month of Disability Awareness this December, five companies have agreed to sign a commitment and establish the Indonesia Business and Disability Network (IBDN) that aims at promoting diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. The signing event took place at JS Luwansa Hotel and Convention Center, preceded by a presentation from Universitas Indonesia about People with Disability in Indonesia’s labor force and a talkshow about the network with representatives from the founding companies.

Based on data obtained from Universitas Indonesia’s research on people with disabilities, out of 12.15 per cent people with disabilities in Indonesia, only 51.12 per cent participate in Indonesia’s labor force, which is much lower compared to people without disabilities at 70.40 per cent. Moreover, there are more people with disabilities that work in the informal sector (65.55 per cent) rather than formal sector (34.45 per cent). The low number of people with disabilities who work in the formal sector is one of the main concerns that are expected to be overcome with through the network.

The existence of this network is hoped to be able to become a forum for sharing and learning between the employers to build one inclusive, conducive and equal working environment.."

Francesco d’Ovidio, ILO Country Director for Indonesia
Francesco d’Ovidio, ILO Country Director for Indonesia, stated that people with disabilities offer tremendous potential that can be explored to help the company in achieving their target. However, each company still acts on their own without one base practice that can benefit both the employer and employee.

“Therefore, the existence of this network is hoped to be able to become a forum for sharing and learning between the employers to build one 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 corporate or formal sector in accordance with their capabilities, interests and talents,” he said.

The five companies that have come together to establish IBDN are PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk, PT L'Oréal Indonesia, PT Standard Chartered Indonesia, PT TetraPak Stainless Engineering and PT Trans Retail Indonesia. Together with their partners, such as disabled persons' organizations, the Ministry of Manpower, International Labour Organization (ILO) and the National Social Security Provider for Employment (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan), the network was voluntarily established and officiated by the commitment signing in order to act as an open platform, inspired by existing initiatives within companies as well as ILO’s Global Business and Disability Network.

We fully support this positive joint initiative as this is an opportunity not only for the companies but also for people with disabilities who do have lots of potentials and talents. We believe that IBDN will be able to open doors for people with disabilities to have the courage to go after their dream career. It may be not easy in the beginning, but we need to start at some point."

Gufron Sakaril, Chairman of Disabled People Organizations Indonesia
IBDN has the mission to encourage business communities in Indonesia to be more inclusive and conducive for diversity, be it through exchange of information and experiences, or through sustainable and mutually beneficial program collaboration between companies and other relevant entities.

Aside from the mission, there are four commitments that have become the basis of this network. Those commitments are: 1) Foster efforts aimed at preparing the business sector to be more inclusive (covering among other following areas: infrastructure, mindset and policy, accessibility, reasonable accommodation, education & training, and awareness raising through exchange of information); 2) Facilitate active roles and preparedness of people with disabilities to work (covering among other following areas: mindset, skill, communication, reasonable accommodation, education and training, and awareness raising); 3) Carry out merit-based recruitment of people with disabilities using mechanism that are equal and friendly with diversity; 4) Encourage creative programs which can improve both company’s competitiveness and the independence of people with disabilities.

“We fully support this positive joint initiative as this is an opportunity not only for the companies but also for people with disabilities who do have lots of potentials and talents. We believe that IBDN will be able to open doors for people with disabilities to have the courage to go after their dream career. It may be not easy in the beginning, but we need to start at some point,” stated Gufron Sakaril, Chairman of Disabled Persons' Organization of Indonesia.

“Employing people with disability is not an act of charity. It is an opportunity for the development of the companies as well as people with disabilities towards a better career path. The five companies that have committed to be more inclusive and conducive for diversity do it because it is part of their companies’ values. We encourage other companies to follow the steps of these five companies because it is the right thing to do,” concluded Francesco d’Ovidio.

For further information please contact:

Tendy Gunawan
ILO's Programme Officer
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 116
Email: gunawan@ilo.org

Gita Lingga
ILO's Communication Officer
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 115
Email: gita@ilo.org