MPR: Concessions for persons with disabilities must go beyond regulation
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI, Lestari Moerdijat, stated that the policy regarding concessions or fee reductions for persons with disabilities, as regulated in Government Regulation Number 31 of 2026, must not stop at the level of regulation.
In her statement in Jakarta on Friday, Lestari said that concrete and collaborative steps are necessary to overcome the various obstacles still faced by persons with disabilities in accessing public services.
“Efforts to increase the participation of persons with disabilities cannot be resolved merely by issuing regulations. Concrete and collaborative steps are required to overcome existing barriers,” she said.
Government Regulation (PP) 31/2026 concerning Concessions for Persons with Disabilities and Incentives for Companies regulates the provision of a minimum 20 per cent concession for persons with disabilities across nine strategic sectors.
The sectors covered by the regulation, which was established on 2 July 2026, include education, transport, health, assistive devices, housing and utilities, employment, entrepreneurship, tourism and culture, as well as sports.
In early September, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs held a coordination meeting to prepare for the implementation of PP 31/2026, involving representatives from various ministries, agencies, and local governments.
Lestari supports the acceleration of policies related to persons with disabilities at the regional level, including the harmonisation and issuance of inclusive regional regulations across all provinces, regencies, and cities.
On the other hand, she highlighted data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) showing that only 2.8 per cent of the 17.9 million persons with disabilities in Indonesia have completed higher education, while approximately 70 per cent of persons with disabilities work in the informal sector.
Therefore, Lestari encourages the consistent strengthening of policies that have a real impact on persons with disabilities as part of the state’s effort to provide equal opportunities to every citizen.
“The fulfilment of the rights of persons with disabilities in all aspects of social life must be carried out with full commitment, as the laws and the constitution have already mandated it,” she said.
She emphasised that stakeholders and the community must be able to build effective protection systems and public services for persons with disabilities.
“The state must remain consistent in its commitment to protecting and fulfilling the rights of all citizens, including persons with disabilities, with the support of all parties,” she added.