Category: Welfare

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 25, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Welfare

Tokyo Company Suspected of Violating Laws and Regulations, Introducing Users of Disabled Welfare Services for a Fee

The business is to introduce users to welfare service offices for a fee, but the operating standards based on the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act prohibits the offices from giving money or goods in exchange for the introduction of users. This is because welfare for the disabled is largely financed by public funds, and taxpayers’ money is used for other purposes. The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) has stated that “there is no law or regulation that regulates the referral business itself, but the business office that pays the money or goods is in violation of the standards,” and that it will “consider how to deal with the situation.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 15, 2025 2
Disability Employment Japan Welfare

Disability welfare service company to close seven offices in Yamagata prefecture

It has been revealed that a disability welfare service company with its headquarters in Shinjo City has indicated its intention to close its seven Type A continuous employment support offices in the prefecture at the end of March next year. According to the company, it plans to close seven Type A continuous employment support offices, where disabled people work under employment contracts, in Shinjo City, Murayama City, and other locations at the end of March next year, and lay off over 200 employees.

The company explained the reason for closing the facilities as follows: “The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has indicated its intention to abolish the annual income requirement for social insurance premiums. If this is abolished, we estimate that our annual burden will increase by approximately 68 million yen. It will be difficult to generate profits that correspond to this.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 4, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Discrimination Employment Japan Welfare

Number of disabled people employed in Japan reaches record high, bias in work, criticism of “number-filling”

In the 2024 employment status of disabled people announced by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (as of June 1), the number of disabled people working in private companies has reached 677,461 (35,283 more than the previous year), the highest number ever for the 21st consecutive year. The actual employment rate also rose 0.08 points from the previous year to 2.41%, reaching a record high for the 13th consecutive year. However, only 46.0% of companies achieved the statutory employment rate (2.5%), a decrease of 4.1 points from the previous year.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 2, 2025 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Disability Japan Welfare

Japanese Government to establish consultation system for developmental disorders, supporting children, families, and local communities

The government has decided to strengthen support for children and families who may have developmental disorders from fiscal 2025, officials announced on the 1st Local childcare, health, and welfare officials will work together with medical institutions. The aim is to establish a system where families can receive “developmental consultations” regarding their children’s characteristics and concerns, such as delayed speech and restlessness, at an early stage, leading to smooth support. In the support framework, developmental consultations will be conducted in places close to children and families, such as health centers that conduct infant health checkups and childcare support centers. Psychologists dispatched from medical institutions commissioned by local governments will provide consultations. An assessment of the child’s characteristics will be conducted and an explanation will be given as to whether a specialist examination is necessary in the future.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 11, 2025 Number of comments0
Care Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan Welfare

Parents of children with disabilities in Japan face “18-year-old wall”, forced to quit jobs to care for children

The Association of Parents Who Work While Raising Children with Disabilities and Children with Medical Care held a press conference at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on December 17, 2024. When children turn 18 and graduate from special-needs schools, they can no longer receive after-school day care services, which are available until around 6 pm. The majority of these services end around 3:00 p.m., forcing parents to leave their jobs to watch over and care for their children. Some parents refer to this the “18-year-old barrier”.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 15, 2024 1
Care Crime Disability Japan Welfare

Fukui Prefecture Takes “administrative action” Over Fraudulent Claims of 7.95 Million Yen in Welfare Service Benefits for People with Disabilities

On December 13, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture, took administrative action under the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act to revoke the designation of ‘MIRAI’, a Type B support for continuous employment support facility operated by Imakoko, a general incorporated association in the city, for fraudulently claiming and receiving approximately 7.95 million yen in disability welfare service benefits.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 3, 2024 Number of comments0
Blind Disability Japan Welfare

New Okinawa volunteer group established to support use of smartphones and apps by visually impaired

A new volunteer group has been established to support the use of smartphones and apps in an effort to eliminate the information gap caused by visual impairment. Izumi Yoshi, representative of the Prefectural Visually Impaired Support Center said: “We provide telephone support, but if you have any problems, please feel free to contact us.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 3, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Welfare

Japan’s Welfare Ministry Reports Only 50.1% of Companies Achieved Legal Employment Rate for People with Disabilities in 2023

According to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, only 50.1% of companies achieved the legal employment rate for people with disabilities of 2.3% in 2023. The legal employment rate for private companies was raised to 2.5% in April 2024, and is scheduled to be further raised to 2.7% in July 2026.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 26, 2024 1
Barrier Free Dementia Disability Japan Welfare

Central Japan City Creates “Dementia Help Mark”

The central Japan city of Obu, Aichi Prefecture, has created an orange-colored “dementia help mark” to make it easier for people to talk to dementia sufferers in need of support. The step was proposed by Ryuichi Takai, 74, who lost his father with dementia in a train accident. “I hope the help mark will become available nationwide to reduce as much as possible the number of people who have to feel the same kind of grief I did,” Takai said.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 23, 2024 Number of comments0
2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disability Education Intellectual disabilities Japan Welfare

200,000 Children with Disabilities in “Special Needs Classes” Reports Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in FY2022 Survey

A survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on the 6th revealed that the number of children with disabilities who used “part-time class instruction” at public and private elementary, junior high and high schools, where they are enrolled in regular classes but receive lessons in separate rooms as needed, reached 198,343 in 2022, a new record high. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities advocates “inclusive education,” in which children with disabilities are not separated from other children and students, but Japan’s current situation has been criticized as going against this.