RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Ensuring the right of persons with disabilities to obtain decent work means more than regulations, consistent implementation and cross-sector collaboration are key. Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), Lestari Moerdijat, said that increasing the workforce participation of persons with disabilities cannot rely solely on regulations.

"Efforts to increase workforce participation rates for persons with disabilities cannot be resolved merely by introducing regulations. Concrete and collaborative steps are needed to overcome existing obstacles," Lestari said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, as cited by Antara.

She explained that the government has strengthened protections for persons with disabilities through Law No. 8/2016 concerning persons with disabilities, which was further reinforced by Regulation No. 8/2026 from the Minister of Manpower regarding the granting of awards for respecting, protecting, and fulfilling the rights of persons with disabilities.

According to Lestari, the current challenge lies not in the availability of regulations but in ensuring that all provisions are consistently implemented by government agencies and businesses. She emphasized that hiring quotas for disabled workers, as mandated by the Persons with Disabilities Law, must be met to respect every citizen's right to employment.

"The employment quotas for people with disabilities, as mandated by the Law on Persons with Disabilities, must be adhered to and consistently implemented. This is part of the effort to achieve inclusivity and equitable development," she said.

Lestari added that sanctions and awards, as stipulated in Minister of Manpower Regulation No. 8/2026, must be applied effectively to encourage compliance among the various parties involved. However, she noted that fulfilling the rights of persons with disabilities is impossible as long as structural and social barriers remain unaddressed.

She highlighted the persistence of stigma, specifically the perception that people with disabilities are less productive, as well as a lack of vocational training aligned with industry needs and unequal access to education.

Furthermore, Lestari advocated for transforming the infrastructure to foster greater inclusivity. This transformation would encompass accessible physical and digital work environments, as well as recruitment systems that are friendly to persons with disabilities.

"Given the current circumstances, tangible collaboration among the education, business, and government sectors, as well as the community, is essential to eliminating disparities in employment opportunities for all citizens, including persons with disabilities," she said.

Lestari emphasized that ensuring the right to equal employment is a vital part of inclusive development, allowing persons with disabilities to participate fully in economic and social life, free from discrimination. ***