Category: Employment

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 13, 2025 1
Barrier Free Disability Employment Japan Mobility as a Service Travel

Bus Service for People with Disabilities to Be Discontinued Due to Driver Shortage

A long-running bus service for people with disabilities in Saitama Prefecture will be discontinued at the end of the fiscal year due to a shortage of drivers and the wider availability of lift-equipped charter buses from private operators, the prefectural government said. The Oozora-go, a 40-seat bus donated over decades by Musashino Bank, has served thousands annually since 1973, offering affordable group travel for disability organizations. Advocates have expressed disappointment, saying the service promoted social participation for people with disabilities, while Governor Motohiro Ōno said the prefecture will consider alternative measures in light of user feedback and social changes.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 10, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Employment Japan

Fureasu Tops 2025 Ranking for Disability Employment in Japan

The 2025 ranking of Japanese companies with the highest employment rates of people with disabilities shows home-visit massage firm Fureasu topping the list with a rate of 15.13 percent, Toyo Keizai magazine reported Thursday. The survey covered 1,137 companies employing at least three people with disabilities. The average rate among all 1,339 firms that disclosed data was 2.25 percent, up slightly from the previous year’s 2.2 percent. Japan raised its legally required employment rate for people with disabilities from 2.3 to 2.5 percent in April, with a further increase to 2.7 percent planned for fiscal 2026.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 13, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan

Japan Firms Facing Challenge of Employing More Disabled

Japanese companies are tackling the difficult task of hiring more disabled people as the statutory minimum employment rate for the disabled will be lifted to 2.7 pct next July from 2.5 pct at present. While the labor market is favorable for job seekers, companies are required to follow a thorough selection process that takes into account traits of each candidate.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 8, 2025 Number of comments0
Abuse Disability Employment Japan Podcast

Abuse of Workers with Disabilities by Employers in Japan Fell by 1.5% in Fiscal Year 2024 [Podcast Episode]

Japan’s Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry reported a slight decline in the number of disabled workers found to be abused by employers in fiscal 2024, even as reports of suspected cases increased. A total of 1,827 workers were the subject of abuse reports, down 1.5% from the previous year, while confirmed cases involved 652 people across 434 workplaces, a 14.3% drop. Most cases involved economic exploitation, such as unfair pay, with part-time and temporary workers most affected. Intellectual disabilities were the most common among victims. Labor bureaus responded mainly with guidance under labor laws, including the Minimum Wage Act.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 6, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan

Kanagawa Prefecture Opens Consultation Desk to Support Employment Retention of People with Disabilities

Kanagawa Prefecture has set up a consultation desk for companies to address issues related to helping employees with disabilities remain in the workplace. Specialists such as certified social workers with expertise in disability employment will respond to concerns like: “An employee with a disability often takes days off, but we don’t know what the problem is,” or “They seem troubled by workplace relationships, how should we respond?”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 5, 2025 1
Abuse Disability Employment Japan

Abuse of Disabled Workers by Employers in Japan Fell by 1.5% in FY2024

Japan’s Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry reported a slight decline in the number of disabled workers found to be abused by employers in fiscal 2024, even as reports of suspected cases increased. A total of 1,827 workers were the subject of abuse reports, down 1.5% from the previous year, while confirmed cases involved 652 people across 434 workplaces, a 14.3% drop. Most cases involved economic exploitation, such as unfair pay, with part-time and temporary workers most affected. Intellectual disabilities were the most common among victims. Labor bureaus responded mainly with guidance under labor laws, including the Minimum Wage Act.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 18, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Hokkaido Farm Abuse Case Japan

Concerns Over Farm Labour Conditions for People with Disabilities in Japan Prompts Push for Self-Regulation

In Japan, growing concerns about the exploitation of people with disabilities on farms—where they are sometimes assigned meaningless tasks or treated as sources of funding—have led to calls for reform. In response, the Association for the Promotion of Employment for Persons with Disabilities has introduced a voluntary certification system to encourage farms and other businesses to self-regulate and provide fair, meaningful work. The initiative aims to promote transparency, ethical labor practices, and the dignity of disabled workers in an industry increasingly reliant on their participation.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 16, 2025 1
Barrier Free Disability Employment Japan

Association for the Promotion of Employment for Persons with Disabilities Establishes Certification System, Aims for Healthy Industry Development

The Japan Association of Business Operators for the Promotion of Employment for Persons with Disabilities has launched a “Qualified Business Operator Certification System for Disability Support Services.” This new system requires member companies, who provide services like farms and satellite offices to facilitate the employment of persons with disabilities, to self-inspect their operations against 107 criteria. The aim is to ensure the healthy growth of the disability employment industry, which currently supports over 9,000 disabled individuals working for more than 1,500 companies. While acknowledging concerns that some companies may view these services merely as a means to meet employment quotas, JAPED believes this industry-wide self-regulation will improve service quality and promote meaningful employment for persons with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 25, 2025 1
Disability Employment Health Japan Mental Health Work

Japan work-related mental illness cases top 1,000, record for 6th year

The number of mental disorder cases recognized as work-related in Japan rose by 172 in fiscal 2024 to 1,055, marking a record high for the sixth straight year, the government said Wednesday, with harassment by superiors cited as the leading cause. Of the total, 88 cases involved suicides or suicide attempts in the fiscal year that ended in March, up nine from the previous year, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said.