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MCRB Forms Strategic Alliance with Business Disability International
MCRB has entered into a ‘strategic alliance’ with Business Disability International (bdi).
bdi is a unique global business consortium galvanising the power of multinational organisations to build a more successful, productive, efficient and inclusive future for business and disabled people. MCRB and bdi share a common strategic goal of enabling global and Myanmar business to become ‘disability confident’, and mobilising business behind legal and systemic reform.
MCRB has undertaken a number of activities to initiate awareness of business on how to be ‘disability confident’ in Myanmar. In 2014, MCRB collaborated with the Deaf Resource Centre of the Myanmar Deaf Community Development Association to adapt to the Myanmar context, translate in Burmese and distribute an EU-funded guide for businesses on how to achieve greater inclusion of people with disabilities as employees and customers, CSR-D.
MCRB has sought to raise awareness of disability issues in its responsible business training for Myanmar businesses. In particular it has encouraged UN Global Compact members to consider disability issues as they focus on their commitment to the ‘human rights’ and ‘labour rights/non-discrimination’ aspects of the 10 Principles of the UN Global Compact. At MCRB’s suggestion, the Responsible Investment Working Group of the Australia-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce has discussed good practice on disability in the workplace and the Myanmar context.
MCRB has also engaged with other organisations representing people with disabilities including Shwe Minthar Foundation and Myanmar Independent Living Initiative (MILI), including on the implementation of the workplace aspects of the 2015 Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law. The strategic alliance with BDI will allow MCRB to tap into global experience of Business & Disability Rights legislation and share these with Myanmar stakeholders.
The link with bdi, which is a member of the Steering Committee of the Global Action on Disability Group (GLAD) will enable MCRB to benefit from this network of international organisations focussed on disability-inclusive development and enable bdi and its members to benefit from MCRB’s local knowledge. MCRB has encouraged Myanmar’s development partners to consider how their development assistance can support people with disabilities, including in integrating them into the workplace in line with their obligations under the UN Convention.
bdi has strategic alliances with a number of international organisations based in Australia, Austria, the USA, Hong Kong and globally. This is bdi’s first alliance with an organisation in a developing country.
