Baznas Pushes Regions to Expand Job Opportunities for People with Disabilities

The National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) is actively pushing for expanded employment opportunities for people with disabilities across Indonesia. Baznas is encouraging its provincial, regency, and city-level branches to collaborate with local employment agencies to facilitate access to skills training, mentoring, and job placement for disabled individuals.

Mokhamad Mahdum, Head of Digitalization, Finance, and Operations at Baznas RI, emphasized the need to formalize existing cooperation with the Ministry of Manpower and extend it to regional levels. "We ask that the MoU between Baznas and the Ministry of Manpower be ratified. We also ask Baznas throughout Indonesia, both at the provincial, regency, and city levels, to cooperate with the local Manpower Office to allocate programs for the disabled or people with disabilities," Mahdum stated.

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We ask that the MoU between Baznas and the Ministry of Manpower be ratified. We also ask Baznas throughout Indonesia, both at the provincial, regency, and city levels, to cooperate with the local Manpower Office to allocate programs for the disabled or people with disabilities.

Mahdum highlighted the persistent challenges faced by people with disabilities in entering the workforce, including limited access to skills training, low acceptance rates in the business world, and a lack of inclusive work environments. The collaboration aims to bridge these gaps by providing tailored training and placement services. This effort aligns with Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities, which mandates the creation of an inclusive and non-discriminatory employment ecosystem.

Baznas itself is setting an example by opening job opportunities within its own organization and is channeling zakat funds to support these initiatives. Recently, Baznas RI provided Rp250 million in assistance to 25 individuals with disabilities in Boyolali Regency to support their training, mentoring, and job placement. Minister of Manpower Yassierli affirmed the ministry's commitment to this collaboration, recognizing it as a crucial step in fulfilling the constitutional right of every citizen to decent work and livelihood.

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This is an extraordinary initiative. There is a constitutional mandate that we must fight for, which is that every citizen has the right to work and a decent living. That is why we are here.