Jakarta – Susiko Triwidiyanto, who is hearing impaired and cannot speak, learned computer skills at a special high school for persons with disabilities, but finding a job after graduating is frustrating matter in a city described as cruel, even by able-bodied people.

"He's been told many times to wait for their phone call, which never comes. Other firms reject him citing communication difficulties," his father, Paino, said. With his newly gained skills not put to use, Susiko's father is now trying to teach him to be independent.

Paino, a security guard, said his family set up a stall in front of their house for Susiko to run a business, but not being able to communicate steered that venture into a dead end.

Paino said that recently he had taken to paying Susiko to run errands, including cleaning the house on Fridays and Saturdays.

"I only do that to motivate him to work and give him a chance to earn something," he said. Paino said that he was saving money to set up a prepaid cellphone voucher stall that Susiko would run.

But disabled people face hurdles not just in finding jobs, but also keeping them, given the city's harsh work environment.

Suparman, the father of Rani, a young hearing impaired woman, told The Jakarta Post that Rani had recently quit her job at a clothing retailer after one year because a contract she was promised by the company never materialized. "My daughter worked for Rp 300,000 [US$34.82] per month," he said.

Suparman said the company did not trust Rani's competence, which was designing clothes, and instead assigned her to the ironing section.

Karina Primadhita, who works at school for the disabled, told the Post that school-taught skills such as cooking, hairdressing and computer skills were enough for students to enter the job market.

"From my experience, [the students] tend to get jobs in small businesses. They are less likely to be employed by bigger companies or institutions," she added.

A draft regulation to protect people with disabilities mandates the city administration to secure job opportunities "in accordance with the level of disability".

However, Jakarta Social Services Agency head Kian Kelana told the Post that the office only assisted street children, beggars, prostitutes, mentally ill people, the blind and persons with multiple disabilities. "We only look after ostracized people. Providing them with jobs is the employment agency's duty," he said.

Kian added that 27 institutions worked to train the people in skills such as massage and computer skills for the blind and sewing and embroidery for other disabled people.

Under the UN Convention on The Rights of Person with Disabilities, ratified by Indonesia, state parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work, on an equal basis with others, which includes employing people with disabilities in the public sector, promoting opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship, the development of cooperatives and starting their own businesses. (rpt)