Osaka Freezes New Type-B Disability Support Facilities

By Barrier Free Japan

September 9 2026

Osaka – Osaka City has restricted the opening of new Type-B employment support facilities for people with disabilities, amid a rapid increase in their numbers and concerns over the quality of services.

The city introduced the restriction in August for facilities that provide light work and other activities to people who have difficulty working for ordinary companies.

The move is aimed at preventing an excessive increase in facilities and ensuring adequate oversight and service quality.

There are also concerns that some facilities may be operating improperly for profit. A survey by a private research company found that at least 17 municipalities nationwide imposed similar restrictions during the previous fiscal year.

Osaka had 1,181 Type-B facilities as of April, nearly 2.9 times the number five years earlier, according to the city.

The facilities have the capacity to accommodate about 31,000 users per month, roughly 1.6 times the approximately 20,000 users the city estimates based on past usage, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on September 8.

“If the number of facilities continues to increase, it will become more difficult for the city to monitor them,” a city official said. “We want to improve the quality of the services.”