As coronavirus spreads in Japan, people with disabilities are dismissed from jobs

Written with extracts translated from NHK

November 14 2020

As the spread of the new coronavirus spreads the impact on employment, the number of people with disabilities who have been dismissed from companies has risen to about 1,200 in the six months to September, an increase of about 40% compared to the same period last year, according to the summary by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is conducting a survey through Hello Work, etc. nationwide in order to understand the impact of the spread of the new coronavirus on the employment of persons with disabilities.

According to the survey, the number of persons with disabilities who were dismissed due to the deterioration of corporate performance etc. reached 1213 nationwide in the six months from April to September, which is about 342 people compared to the same period last year. It has increased by 40%.

Of these, 432 have intellectual disabilities, an increase of approximately 80% from last year.

The number of people with mental disabilities is 315 (+ 29% compared to last year) and the number of people with physical disabilities is 466 (+ 20% compared to last year).

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is promoting support for reemployment.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, “Telework has spread due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, and the number of office workers who need to go to work is decreasing, and people with disabilities are affected by this. Creating a job is an issue. ”

Regarding the employment of persons with disabilities, the statutory employment rate will be raised by 0.1% in March next year to 2.3% for companies and 2.6% for national institutions and local governments, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will support companies to achieve the employment rate. I am considering.