VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Ministry of Manpower has launched a Service Unit for the Disabled in Employment as part of the government's “concrete commitment” towards ensuring the rights of the disabled.

The unit has been formed under the Government Regulation (PP) Number 60 of 2020 on the Disability Service Unit in the Manpower Sector, which was signed by President Joko Widodo on October 13, 2020, Minister of Manpower, Ida Fauziyah, revealed at its launch in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Joining the launch virtually, she said: "In obtaining employment and economic welfare, those with disabilities have rights that are protected under Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities, in accordance with the basic principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."

However, Ida reiterated that the issues regarding people living with disabilities involve different sectors, which play an important role in protecting and fulfilling their employment rights.

The same sentiment was expressed by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, who praised the Ministry of Manpower's move to launch the disability employment unit, and expressed the hope that it would be a positive development for persons with disabilities in Indonesia.

Effendy said the COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on all sections of the public, including people with disabilities.

Data from the Ministry of Manpower's Mandatory Report on Employment as of January 2020 shows 546 companies employed 4,508 people with disabilities, out of a total workforce of 538,518, he revealed.

"On behalf of the government, we express our highest appreciation to companies that have consciously provided sufficient space for people with disabilities to give their performance, skills (a boost and provided them a chance to), develop their talents," he said.

He then urged other companies to meet the obligation to employ persons with disabilities, as mandated by Law number 8 of 2016, which has been set at one percent of total workers for private companies and two percent for state- or village-owned enterprises.

At the launch event, the Ministry of Manpower also presented awards to six companies employing workers with disabilities and fulfilling all requirements of employment.

Awards were also given to five Manpower Offices implementing the social safety net program for workers with disabilities who have been affected by COVID-19. The five agencies were from Kerawang district, Subang district, DKI Jakarta province, Central Java, and Yogyakarta Special Region. (antaranews)