Jakarta, 21 December 2022 – Microsoft has just participated in the ‘Karya Tanpa Batas’ event held by the Solidarity Action Organization of the Indonesia Maju Cabinet (Organisasi Aksi Solidaritas Era Kabinet Indonesia Maju / OASE), the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, SMESCO, and Perempuan Tangguh Indonesia to commemorate International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022. In this event, Microsoft Indonesia inaugurated its collaboration with PT. Panasonic Gobel Life Solutions Sales Indonesia to organize a series of job training for people with disabilities through the Microsoft Enabler program, introducing a work mentorship program for people with autism with PT. Disabilitas Kerja, as well as holding workshops for 60 people with disabilities with PT Sinergi Transformasi Digital. The workshops cover how to create applications quickly, tips on using accessibility features in Microsoft products, and how to build a corporate & personal persona on LinkedIn.
“We are honored to be able to join in on the ‘Karya Tanpa Batas’ event with other institutions, organizations, and communities that share the same commitment to increasing diversity and inclusivity at work. Just as our world is colored by diversity, it also requires diverse thinkers, creators, and innovators, to be able to meet the various demands of life. We believe diversity and inclusiveness are the keys to limitless innovation,” said Krishna Worotikan, CFO and Diversity & Inclusion Lead of Microsoft Indonesia.
‘Microsoft Enabler’ Job Training Program
Microsoft Enabler is an initiative that brings together non-profit organizations, employer partners, and people with disabilities in Asia Pacific–including Indonesia–to create an inclusive work environment where everyone can be who they are at work.
According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) 2020 data, Indonesia has 22.5 million people with disabilities or around 5% of the total population. However, in January 2021, out of a total of 536,094 employees in 551 companies that employ persons with disabilities, only 4,453 are persons with disabilities*. This shows that there is still a need for the support of more parties to create an inclusive work environment for all, ensuring that fast-paced economic growth does not leave anyone behind.
With the joining of PT. Panasonic Gobel Life Solutions Indonesia to the Microsoft Enabler community, more internal campaigns to raise awareness and participation in hiring people with disabilities are expected to be run in the future. Other goals include mentoring and role-shadowing, providing job recommendation letters for people with disabilities, and more. On the other hand, Microsoft will assist PT. Panasonic Gobel Life Solutions Sales Indonesia equips those with disabilities with the technological skills they need to succeed in the workplace through various training programs and certifications.
Widyastama Nugraha, Director of PT. Panasonic Gobel Life Solutions Sales Indonesia said, “We have implemented initiatives that support people with disabilities, such as internship programs, support for the independence of people with disabilities in their businesses, and social contributions to the people with disabilities communities. Moving forward, we want to create changes that significantly impact people with disabilities, and to do that, institutions and corporations must work together. For this reason, we warmly welcome the partnership with Microsoft through the Microsoft Enabler initiative. We are optimistic that the two corporations’ significant commitment will help us move closer toward an economic growth that is far more inclusive.”
Work Mentorship Program
In addition to the job training program ‘The Enabler,’ Microsoft has also specifically created a work mentorship program for adults with autism. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) prediction, 1 in 160 children worldwide suffers from autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Meanwhile, the number of people with autism in Indonesia is estimated to increase by up to 500 people each year**. Many adults with autism have the skills needed by businesses, but about 80% of them cannot find a job***. This situation also prompted Microsoft to take part in opening a room for self-development for people with autism in terms of professional work. Through this mentorship program, several Microsoft Indonesia employees are committed to providing mentoring for selected adults with autism. This mentoring includes an adaptation process in the workplace and the development of technical and non-technical skills tailored to the interests and competence of each adult with autism. Supported by PT. Disabilitas Kerja as a partner, registration for this program can be done through [email protected].
“Numerous research and real-world experiences found that people with autism can succeed in various specializations and pursue their education to the university level. We must help them fully develop in each of their respective fields. Through the mentorship program that Microsoft launched, I hope we can have a real impact on people with autism, enabling them to become part of a productive and empowered community,” stated Hasnita Taslim, Founder & CEO of PT. Disabilitas Kerja.
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* Ministry of Human Resources: Hiring Persons with Disabilities Can Increase Company Prestige : News : Indonesian Ministry of Human Resources
** Autism A-Z Webinar World Autism Awareness Day Celebration 2022