The ILO Indonesia and the National Commission for Disability (KND) signed a Declaration of Joint Commitment to promote inclusive decent work for people with disabilities in Indonesia. Held on 8 February, the Joint Commitment was virtually signed by Michiko Miyamoto, Country Director of the ILO in Indonesia and Dante Rigmalia, Head of KND.

KND is a newly established national commission to fulfil the mandate of the Law No. 8/2016 on People with Disabilities. The commission is further reinforced by Presidential Regulation No. 68/2020 on National Committee for Disabilities. Seven commissioners of KND were recently inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on 1 December last year, in conjunction with the commemoration of the International Day of Disabled Persons.

“The signing of the Joint Commitment is a significant milestone to strengthen coordinated efforts to create inclusive world of work in Indonesia. It is also in line with Indonesia’s G20 Presidency in 2022 highlighting the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of lives, including employment,” stated Michiko in her opening remarks.

Meanwhile, as the Chairperson of KND, Dante appreciated the ILO’s initiative in conducting various studies and efforts to promote inclusivity, including the declaration of the Joint Commitment to fulfil the respect, protection and fulfilment of the rights of people with disabilities at work.

The Joint Commitment highlights seven means to promote decent work for people with disabilities and support the implementation of the Law No. 8/2016 through: 1. Collaboration with all relevant stakeholders; 2. Promotion of rights; 3. Elimination of discrimination; 4. Equal treatment and opportunity; 5. Attention to all types of disabilities; 6. Knowledge-sharing; and 7. Active participation from people with disabilities.

The Joint Commitment also underlines key stakeholders, they are: 1. Governments to accelerate the implementation of employment regulations for people with disabilities; 2. Private sector to implement quota policy for workers with disabilities; 3. Trade unions to support advocacies on inclusivity; 4. People with disabilities to improve their capacities; 5. Society to have good understanding about disabilities; and 6. Educational institutions and academia to conduct assessments and provide supports to employment for people with disabilities.

The Ministry of Manpower congratulated the ILO and KND for the Joint Commitment. Nora Kartika Setyaningrum, Director of Workers’ Placement of the Ministry of Manpower, agreed that the promotion of inclusive workplaces is not only the responsibility of the government, but should involve all relevant stakeholders. “We have received commitments from 17 regional governments to establish a Disability Service Unit for Employment. The empowerment of regional governments will support the creation of inclusive workplaces in the country.”

A similar commitment was shared by Himawan Estu B., Head of Manpower Office in East Java. The East Java Manpower Office has opened a Disability Service Unit focusing on entrepreneurship, skills development, job training and the usage of technology. The Office also plans to combine its labour inspection activities to ensure the implementation of working quota of one percent for workers with disabilities.

Djaleswari Pramodhawardani, Deputy V KSP, encouraged all related parties to accelerate the establishment and functioning of disability service units in the field of employment at both national and regional levels. “This employment disability service unit can answer some of the challenges for people with disabilities to access job opportunities and develop career paths,” she said in her closing statement.

Representing workers with disabilities, M. Hilal Huda, a disabled worker at the State-Owned Company, also welcomed the Joint Commitment. “The greater participation and the skills improvement of people with disabilities are key. Based on my working experience, I have acceptance from my company and fellow workers. Thus, I would like to remind my colleagues with disabilities to be confident with your skills,” he said.

To date, out of 17.95 million working aged people with disabilities, only around 7 million people work in the formal sector. The Indonesian regulation has deliberated quota of 2 percent for governments’ institutions and state-owned companies. Meanwhile the quota of 1 percent for companies. The data of Manpower Ministry showed that more than 500 companies have employed more than 4,500 workers with disabilities.

The live discussion of the signing can be viewed on ILO TV Indonesia.