Category: Welfare

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 June 21, 2024 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Elderly Japan Welfare

‘Welfare Nail Services’ for Elderly and Disabled Growing in Japan

Japan is seeing a spread of so-called welfare nail services, or nail stylists dispatched to welfare and other facilities giving manicures to elderly or disabled people.

The number of certified providers of such services, known as “welfare nailists,” has grown 3.5-fold over years, according to a training organization.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 16, 2024 1
Care Disability Japan Megumi Corporation Welfare

Japan’s Health, Labor and Welfare Minister says he wants to deal with disability welfare service compensation fraud in an appropriate manner

It has become clear that group homes for people with disabilities operated by Megumi Co., Ltd., headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, are overcharging food costs, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has also revealed that they are also fraudulently charging fees for welfare services for the disabled.

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.’”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 2, 2024 2
Disability Employment Japan Welfare

“Coming to the farm is your job”: Workers with Disabilities in Japan Harassed, Given Little Work to Make Up Employment Numbers

“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.'”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 24, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Elderly Health Japan Welfare

Japan Health Insurance Premium Rate to Hit Record High

The average premium rate at corporate health insurance societies in Japan is projected to hit a record high of 9.32 pct in fiscal 2024, according to the National Federation of Health Insurance Societies, or Kenporen. Reflecting an increase in contributions to the medical care services for the elderly, the rate is expected to rise 0.05 percentage point from the previous year, which ended in March, the group of health insurance societies for employees of large corporations and their families said Tuesday.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 22, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Podcast Shog.A.I. Shimbun Welfare

The Shog-A.I. Shimbun Podcast #21: Eight Kansai-based Type 1 Diabetes Patients Have Disability Payments Restored After Second Court Case

Eight years ago, eight patients living in Osaka, Nara, etc. filed a lawsuit against the government after their long-term basic disability pension was discontinued, and all of them won, but they were subsequently rejected again by the government. Since the payment was made, they filed a second complaint.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 20, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Osaka Welfare

After Second Court Case, Osaka High Court Upholds Right to Disability Pension for Type 1 Diabetes Patients, Reversing Govt’s Decision

Eight years ago, eight patients living in Osaka, Nara, etc. filed a lawsuit against the government after their long-term basic disability pension was discontinued, and all of them won, but they were subsequently rejected again by the government. Since the payment was made, they filed a second complaint. On April 19th, the Osaka High Court ordered the government to pay pensions to all eight people, stating that it was illegal to deny them pensions.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 17, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Japan My Number Welfare

Fujitsu Given Guidance over My Number System Problem

Last year, there were 15 cases of erroneous issuance through the system. Although the system operator took corrective measures, including fixing the program, the latest problem occurred. Some of those errors included some individuals’ disability welfare and health-related information being ‘linked’ to the wrong My Number account. The most recent case of such a mistake was reported by Aichi Prefecture in March 2024 when 95 new cases of incorrect linking were confirmed.