Good News, Erick Thohir Promises To Expand Job Opportunities For Persons With Disabilities

JAKARTA - State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir promised to expand job opportunities for persons with disabilities as productive workers with equal abilities to be placed in state-owned companies.

Erick's promise was stated in the MoU or a joint memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Manpower regarding Job Training and Placement of Workers with Disabilities in BUMN.

Erick said the memorandum of understanding was intended for the two ministries to have a joint commitment in increasing access to the fulfillment of workers' rights for persons with disabilities.

Furthermore, Erick said that training and placement of workers with disabilities in BUMN was in accordance with their respective authorities. He said this was a form of the government's responsibility for workers with disabilities.

"This form of collaboration certainly needs to be regulated in such a way as to create a good business ecosystem between the supply and demand of its workforce. Through training, placement, entrepreneurial empowerment and coaching programs in order to expand job opportunities," he said, in Jakarta, Wednesday, 22 July.

Not only that, Erick said, their protection is regulated according to the types and types of disabilities, including providing accessibility, providing work tools and personal protective equipment. In fact, if there are persons with disabilities who have entrepreneurial potential, BUMN will also support the expansion of job opportunities.

"To be sure, there will be the same treatment with other non-disabled colleagues," he said.

Based on data from the Ministry of Manpower in 2019, the number of workers with disabilities in BUMN and the private sector continues to increase. If in 2017 the number of disabled workers reached, 4,286 people, that figure would increase in 2018 to 4,537 people.

Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah said the Ministry of BUMN is also expected to provide data and information on job vacancies for people with disabilities. He explained that these prospective workers will receive training tailored to the needs of state-owned companies.

"Therefore, in this understanding, the Ministry of Manpower will facilitate the training of workers with disabilities and their placement according to the needs of BUMN. So it will be adjusted to the needs of BUMN as users," he explained.

In addition, said Ida, in order to provide data and information for job seekers with disabilities, the Ministry of Manpower will also provide guidance and enforcement of labor norms in the context of placing workers with disabilities, as well as socializing the implementation of job training, apprenticeship, employment placement, and entrepreneurship for people with disabilities. .

"At least, we also want to encourage the independence of persons with disabilities in the future," he said.