After the outreach event on Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities in Rejang Lebong on Thursday, PMMI Bengkulu chairperson Irna Riza Yuliastuty said that the initiative aimed to highlight job opportunities for people with disabilities, particularly in the private sector.
“This outreach is about implementing the mandate of Law Number 8 of 2016 on Persons with Disabilities, especially the one-percent employment quota for people with disabilities in the private sector,” she explained.
She said that the effort is crucial for identifying the number of people with disabilities who are working in the private sector and encouraging businesses to adopt more inclusive recruitment practices.
Based on field data, there are currently around 1,100 persons with disabilities in Rejang Lebong district and about 600 in Bengkulu city.
She urged local businesses in Rejang Lebong to allocate corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to improve the capacity and skills of people with disabilities through job training at vocational training centers (BLK) and apprenticeship programs.
Meanwhile, head of the Rejang Lebong District Manpower and Transmigration Office, Syamsir Madani, said that several persons with disabilities are currently employed as civil servants in the district government, while in the private sector, many are operating their own businesses.
“The ultimate goal is employment and reducing the unemployment rate in Rejang Lebong. Law Number 8 of 2016 grants people with disabilities the right to work, the right to independence, and the right to social inclusion,” he said.
He added that persons with disabilities are also entitled to priority access to healthcare services and other public services, including special lanes and expedited service for various administrative needs.
Madani expressed appreciation for PMMI Bengkulu’s outreach program, which was attended by business representatives, local officials, disability advocates, and other stakeholders.
He said he hoped that the PMMI and relevant agencies will continue to collect accurate data on persons with disabilities in Rejang Lebong, including their skills and competencies, to help them start businesses or find employment in different sectors.
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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