Category: Employment

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 18, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Robotics

New ‘ultra-short-time employment’ experiment for people with disabilities using avatar robots to be conducted in Tokyo’s Toshima Ward

Toshima Ward will conduct an experiment on a new employment model for people with disabilities at the Sunshine City complex (Higashi-Ikebukuro). For the month of November, people with mental and intellectual disabilities will work short hours, and people who have difficulty going out will serve customers using avatar robots. An agreement was signed with the company on the 6th of this month for the experiment. In the experiment, about 10 ward residents with disabilities will practice the employment model at Sunshine City’s reception desk, aquarium, and observation deck. They will not be paid, but participants will receive a subsidy from the ward.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 9, 2024 Number of comments0
Abuse Disability Employment Japan Podcast Work

761 people with disabilities in Japan suffered abuse at work last year [Podcast Episode]

A survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found that 761 people with disabilities suffered abuse at work, such as unpaid wages and verbal abuse, last year, an increase of 105 from the previous year. This is thought to be due to the recovery of economic activity from COVID-19, which has increased employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 8, 2024 1
Abuse Disability Employment Japan Work

761 people with disabilities in Japan suffered abuse at work last year, 105 more than the previous year

A survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found that 761 people with disabilities suffered abuse at work, such as unpaid wages and verbal abuse, last year, an increase of 105 from the previous year. This is thought to be due to the recovery of economic activity from COVID-19, which has increased employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 7, 2024 1
Employment Hokkaido Farm Abuse Case Japan Welfare

As Farms in Japan Continue to Use Agencies for Disabled Workers, Concerns About ‘Padding’ & Meaningfulness of Jobs Remain

In early May 2024 it was reported how, as the employment rate for people with disabilities rose in April 2024, the number of businesses providing work opportunities to people with disabilities on behalf of companies is expanding. However, it is becoming clear that many businesses, but seemingly especially farms, use agencies to hire people with disabilities, without giving them actual work to do; one employee who had a disability was told “coming to the farm is your job.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 28, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Welfare

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

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.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 16, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun Welfare

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #52: ‘Unprecedented’ 5,000 People with Disabilities Quit or Fired from Workplaces in Japan

A nationwide survey of local governments by Kyodo News on the 13th revealed that 329 workplaces where disabled people could gain skills and knowledge while working were closed nationwide between March and July of this year, resulting in at least 5,000 disabled people who worked there being fired or quitting. The highest number of disabled people ever fired in a year was about 4,000. Although this includes retirees, this is an unprecedented number in just five months.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 15, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Welfare

‘Unprecedented’ 5,000 People with Disabilities Quit or Fired from Workplaces in Japan, 329 Workplaces Closed Due to Cuts in Compensation Payments

 A nationwide survey of local governments by Kyodo News on the 13th revealed that 329 workplaces where disabled people could gain skills and knowledge while working were closed nationwide between March and July of this year, resulting in at least 5,000 disabled people who worked there being fired or quitting. The highest number of disabled people ever fired in a year was about 4,000. Although this includes retirees, this is an unprecedented number in just five months.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 17, 2024 Number of comments0
AI Disability Employment Japan Technology

‘Seamless Buddy’ AI App Visualizes the Strengths and Weaknesses of People with Disabilities Seeking Employment

“Seamless Buddy,” a system that makes it possible to visualize the abilities of people with disabilities, is attracting attention. In March of this year, the system was recognized, and Yoko Takahashi (50), the representative of Danway (Nakahara Ward, Kawasaki City), which developed it, was selected for the “Kawasaki Entrepreneur Excellence Award.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 3, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun Welfare

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #24: Workers with Disabilities Told Only “Coming to the farm is your job”

“The work was far from professional agriculture, and most of the time was spent on breaks. If there was a harvest, I would do it, but there were days when I just watered the crop. In those cases, it only took about 30 minutes, and I had five or six hours of free time. Some people were on their cell phones or listening to music, and had a lot of free time. They told me that ‘coming to the farm is your job.’”