Japan’s PM Abe apologizes for ‘nearly 20 years of neglecting’ disability employment issue
“ “”I am sorry as a head of an administration for a problem that had been neglected for nearly 20 years,”Abe said”
“ “”I am sorry as a head of an administration for a problem that had been neglected for nearly 20 years,”Abe said”
““ “We are hoping that you will be supporters of the disabled and promote their employment by taking back what you learned through this seminar to your workplace,” said Kenichi Hojo, chief of the ministry’s Employment Development Department, at the opening of the meeting.”
“The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, which holds jurisdiction over the country’s system for employment of people with disabilities, will send investigators to each ministry and agency to find out whether required standards, including the confirmation of disability certificates, are met, according to the sources.”
“On the 24th October, the National Personnel Authority announced that in February 2019 the central government ministry will increase the number of employment for persons with disabilities, the National Personnel Authority will conduct a unified screening examination for national public servants targeted at persons with disabilities for the first time in February next year. It is expected that hundreds of disabled people will be hired across ministries and agencies.”
“ “The probe is superficial,” said Katsunori Fujii, head of the Japan Council on Disability. “It failed to answer questions about problems the panel itself raised — the low level of interest in hiring people with disabilities, and the weak awareness about the ideals of the law.”
“Ministries and agencies “arbitrarily interpreted” guidelines for employing disabled people and counted people who were retired or even dead among their numbers in an attempt to meet legal quotas”
“The Japanese government is expected to conduct its first unified employment examination targeting disabled people next January or February, in an effort to raise the proportion of workers with disabilities to 2.5 percent, the legally required level for central government bodies, by the end of fiscal 2019, informed sources said.”
“ADHD affects 1 in 5 people nationwide in Japan. It was believed to be a minor problem in the past, but nowadays “adult ADHD (adult developmental disorder)” is attracting attention.”
“The cafe, which will be open on weekdays between Nov. 26 and Dec. 7, will make use of robots controlled by people with diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a motor neuron disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.”
“Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, announced on 14th that when calculating the employment rate of persons with disabilities, it did not include part-time staff , so it did not reach 2.5% of the statutory amount.”



