300 disabled workers laid off, retired or closed employment offices, a record high for single job provider

From Kyodo

December 22 2024

AICHI – On December 22nd, interviews with local governments revealed that the same company group, which operates “Type A business offices” in various regions that support continued employment for disabled people, has closed (abolished) 11 offices in five prefectures, including Aichi and Kyoto, since September. Including future plans, the number of closures will be at least 16 in total in six prefectures, and the number of disabled people fired or retired is expected to reach about 300. This is an unusual scale for a single business operator, and in some cases, users have rebelled against the sudden closures, causing trouble.

A Kyodo News investigation revealed that 329 Type A business offices were closed nationwide between March and July of this year, and about 5,000 people were fired or retired. The main reason for the withdrawal is the government’s reduction in compensation for offices that rely on public funds and are in financial difficulty.

The company in question is “MOON” in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture. In an interview, he said, “The remuneration revision has resulted in business profits not increasing as expected. We are meeting with each person individually to adjust the destination so that users do not have any problems.”
The company has established a different name for each facility, and operates 28 A-type facilities in eight prefectures from Hokkaido to Osaka.