Japan Govt Agencies May Have Overstated Disabled Employment Results

August 17, 2018

Tokyo- Several central government ministries and agencies in Japan may have pretended they achieved the mandatory target for their employment of disabled people, it was learned Friday.

Under the law to promote employment of people with disabilities, the government in fiscal 2017 obliged private businesses to have certified disabled people account for at least 2.0 pct of the total workforce, central and local government bodies including independent agencies at least 2.3 pct, and prefectural and municipal education boards at least 2.2 pct. The mandatory employment shares were lifted further for the current fiscal year that started in April.

The national government bodies in question, including the internal affairs and land ministries, are suspected of overstating the proportions of employees with certified disabilities in fiscal 2017 by including those who were physically challenged but did not have disability certificates, informed sources said.

If the employment rate for the disabled falls short of the required level, a company should pay a levy in line with the size of shortfall. If it happens at a government entity, it will be required to draw up an employment program to meet the requirement.

According to data released by the labor ministry, the overall employment rate for the disabled at 33 administrative ministries and agencies of the central government came to 2.49 pct as of June 1 last year, with 32 of the government entities clearing the 2.3 pct target. Jiji Press