Disabled demand for equal rights in work<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Association of the Disabled (PPCI) urged employers
\nin the country on Thursday to comply with a law requiring that
\none percent of their workforces be made up of disabled people.<\/p>\n
"We have long been complaining about our difficulties in
\ngetting jobs on account of out physical disabilities," PPCI
\nexecutive Gufran Sakaril said after a meeting with Vice President
\nHamzah Haz.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, PPCI executives reported on the
\npreparations for the national disabled games -- Abilympics II
\n2003 -- which will take place from Sept. 20 through Sept. 24 in
\nCibinong, West Java.<\/p>\n
Gufran said that many firms violated Law No. 4\/1997 on rights
\nfor the disabled, which prohibits firms from discriminating
\nagainst the disabled, and requires them to ensure that one
\npercent of their workforces are made up of the disabled.<\/p>\n
The penalty for a violation was a maximum fine of Rp 200
\nmillion (US$23,500), but the law was not being enforced, he said.<\/p>\n
Gufran suggested that companies take entrance test results,
\ninstead of just physical appearance, into account when recruiting
\nemployees.<\/p>\n
An estimate 20 million people over 17 or married are disabled
\nin Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Discrimination against the disabled in many public places is
\nstill widespread. The most obvious example is the fact that many
\npublic facilities, such as bus terminals, train stations and
\noffices, are not yet accessible to the disabled.<\/p>\n
Some schools also refuse to accept sight-impaired students
\neven if they have passed the entrance examination.<\/p>\n
Another senior executive of the PPCI, Irawan Santoso, called
\nfor better access to public facilities for the disabled.<\/p>\n
"Please give the disabled equal opportunities to use public
\nfacilities," he said.<\/p>\n
Gufran said Hamzah supported their demands and asked the PPCI
\nto encourage other disabled people to continuously call for equal
\nrights.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/disabled-demand-for-equal-rights-in-work-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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