Cover Photo courtesy of REY MELVIN CARAAN on Unsplash
Photo courtesy of REY MELVIN CARAAN on Unsplash
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52 companies form a network aiming to address the rights of persons with disabilities in the workplace
Despite being in progressive times, there is still a notable number of persons with disabilities (PWDs) that face hardships in employment. There is an estimate of over 650 million PWDs in Asia, according to the United Nations Population Fund. Highlighting the challenging environment they face in the Philippines, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also shared data stating that the unemployment rate for PWDs increased to seven per cent in January 2022.
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To help address these issues, the Philippine Business and Disability Network (PBDN) holds annual conferences to stress the need for barrier-free workplaces for PWDs. One of which occurred last July 19.
52 member companies are part of this network, a mix of large multinational and local companies and leaders in their respective sectors. Every one of them leans towards building a more accessible and equitable society for and with PWDs.
Above The attendees of Philippine Business and Disability Network’s 2nd Annual Conference (Photo courtesy of PBDN)
The attendees of Philippine Business and Disability Network’s 2nd Annual Conference (Photo courtesy of PBDN)
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JP Morgan Chase & Co
“We can be inclusive to persons with disabilities. Because that was the big question we had. Can we do it?” says Ramil Dela Cruz of JP Morgan Chase & Co, when asked whether building an inclusive workplace for persons with disabilities was possible for a large company.
Above Jennica Agustin with Krissy Bisda, Dacki San Diego, and Candy Pangilinan during the Working Beyond Barriers event of PBDN (Photo courtesy of PBDN)
Jennica Agustin with Krissy Bisda, Dacki San Diego, and Candy Pangilinan during the Working Beyond Barriers event of PBDN (Photo courtesy of PBDN)
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Jennica Agustin, who is diagnosed with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy, struggled to search for a job, having been rejected 40 times before finally landing a position at the company. “Give us [PWDs] a try. Don’t judge us by our disabilities,” she shares.
Shell
Out of the 52 member companies of PBDN, only two are among the top 100 publicly listed companies in the Philippines in terms of market capitalisation based on data by the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc (PSEi). One of them is Shell.
Above Photo courtesy of Shell
Photo courtesy of Shell
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The company’s diversity and inclusion (D&I) team takes great pride in actively promoting equal opportunities for disabled employees. In fact, according to the human resources manager for gas in projects and technology Andy Kneen, Shell was the first company to get back to him. “At the time I was in a wheelchair, but they made it clear it wasn’t an issue. Shell was very accommodating and they created a great first impression.”
IBM
IBM always has been inclusive of the disability community since they first hired a person with a disability in 1914, and has been doing it in all their branches in other countries.
Since then, the company has taken numerous steps and created various programs to ensure that people with disabilities are well accommodated within their organization and that their consumers with disabilities are provided with accessible and sound products.
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Above Photo courtesy of IBM
Photo courtesy of IBM
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These three, together with other members of the network below, continue to hope for more progressive inclusivity in the local Philippine setting.
- Asian Development Bank
- Asurion
- Australia New Zealand Bank Global Services & Operations (Manila)
- Axa
- Bayer
- Cambridge
- Carelon Global Solutions
- Carparts.com (Philippines), Inc.
- Cbre
- Cebu Pacific Air
- Cisi
- Citihub
- Coca-cola Beverage Philippines, Inc.
- Colgate-Palmolive
- Concentrix Philippines
- Decathlon
- Dks
- Ey Global Delivery Services
- Fredley Group
- Generali Life Assurance
- Genpact
- Global Care Medical Center of Canlubang, Inc.
- Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
- Ibex Global Solutions (Philippines), Inc.
- Infinit-o
- Ingram Micro Philippines
- LBC Express
- Macquarie Group Services (Philippines), Inc.
- Manulife
- Monark
- Monroe consulting
- MSCI
- Nestlé Philippines, Inc.
- Northern Trust
- Optum
- Paypal
- Pfizer Inc.
- PJ Lhuillier
- PLDT Inc. / Smart Communications, Inc.
- Reed Elsevier Philippines
- S&P Global Philippines Inc.
- Shell
- SolarWinds
- Startek
- TaskUs Philippines
- TDCX
- Teleperformance
- Telus International
- Visa Business Processing Center
- Willis Towers Watson
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
