Japan’s Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare orders support for re-employment of disabled people due to successive dismissals

From Kyodo via Yahoo! Japan

August 27 2024

TOKYO – At a press conference on the 27th, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Takemi Keizo said, “I have instructed the Labor Bureau to respond to the successive dismissals and resignations at employment offices where disabled people can learn skills and knowledge while working,” in order to provide detailed support for re-employment.

According to a nationwide local government survey by Kyodo News, 329 offices were closed between March and July this year, and at least 5,000 people were fired or resigned. This was due to the government’s reduction in compensation for “Type A Employment Continuation Support Offices,” which are in a difficult financial situation, in April in order to encourage improvement in the management of employment offices that rely on public funds.

Takemi explained that he had instructed the Labor Bureau to grasp the status of dismissal notices submitted to local governments and respond accordingly. He said he had asked local governments to ensure that necessary support continues even after the offices are closed.