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Better Employment Prospects for Disabled Japanese? (June.2001)

Translated by JSRPD from an article written by Ms. Masako Okuhira, the former Secretary General of Japan Council on Independent Living Centers. It was first published in the April issue of "Normalization" in 2001.

Will the working conditions of persons with disabilities improve under new Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare?


January 2001, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Ministry of Labour were united to become the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, as a result of the Government's reorganization. Originally, the two ministries had been one until 1947, just after the end of World War II. What is the government's intention in reuniting them?

The Law on Establishment of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare published last July states as follows: "The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is responsible for improving social welfare, security and public health, maintaining the working environments and conditions, and securing jobs, in order to guarantee and raise the standard of living and to contribute to economic development."

This statement probably means that life and labour cannot be separated. Some say, "Working is one of the fundamental rights of human beings." The right to live and the right to work may be the two sides of the same coin. Thinking in this way, we can expect that not only the life of disabled and elderly persons but also the life of all the Japanese will improve significantly, because the government can pursue more comprehensive policies under the new ministry.

New priorities for the disability movement?
The disability movement will also change. More focus will be on the acquisition of the right of labor than on the guarantee of their life. Their first goal is to leave welfare facilities or hospitals and start their life in the communities. The second is to find something that they live for. Here, "to work" has a very important meaning.

I myself have severe physical disability caused by cerebral palsy, which is 1st grade of disability according to the related law, but have been working since graduating from university. However I had long thought that I would not be able to work, because a lot of my elders who had the same disabilities as mine were living in rehabilitation centres or welfare facilities. Only those with minor disabilities were working using their skills. After living in a welfare facility for 14 years, I no longer wanted to stay there, so I said that I would like to go to university. Most teachers opposed this, saying that people with disabilities should instead get some skills to live. Fortunately, however, my parents and the teacher in charge encouraged me, saying "Do what you want to do," I pushed my way through, took an entrance exam and managed to pass, which was very lucky. Just before finishing university, again I was worried because I did not know what to do after graduation, but a friend introduced me to a job in a small company. At that time I was thinking, "Any job is OK, as long as I can work."


>Observing some differences between Japan and the USA
However, this way of thinking was changed when I was accepted for the Duskin Leadership Training Program for the Persons with Disabilities in USA twenty years ago. The program was sponsored by the Duskin Ainowa Foundation. At that time I participated in training at the Job Development Department of the Berkeley Center of Independent Living in California. Every day a few disabled people came to the department and I helped them find jobs.

What surprised me was that those who came all had clear ideas of what kind of job they were looking for. They would say, "I am looking for a job of this kind", or "I have this skill. Is there any job that I can make use of it?" On the other hand, in Japan, disabled individuals looking for jobs would say, "Is there anything I can do?" or "I would do anything, if only I could work. "In the USA disabled individuals seem to work not only for their daily living but also for the sense of achievement and the meaningful life. From this experience I learned that persons with disabilities also have the right and duty to work as they wish just like the others.

The difference between the two countries can also be found in the government's employment policies. In Japan, 1.8% of the total employees in companies and 2.1% in public offices must be disabled. If they cannot achieve this rate, however, they only have to pay certain penalties. Many companies consider that it is better to pay the penalty than to employ disabled persons. The average rate is not increasing, also because of the economic depression in these years.

On the contrary, in the USA, the working opportunities for persons with disabilities are guaranteed by the ADA. In addition, the President proclaimed several years ago that the employment rate of disabled persons should be raised to the same level as those without disabilities. In order to improve their working conditions, there are many systems such as job coaching and supported employment for those with mental disabilities, as well as adjustment of the working days and hours.


Suggestions for approach of new Japanese Government
As a result of the reunion of Ministry of Health and Welfare and Ministry of Labour, I expect that the Japanese Government will guarantee the right of labour and improve the working environments and conditions for disabled persons, in addition to executing the present legal obligation to hire them. For example, people with serious disabilities should be provided with both daily care and job assistance, which are indispensable when they wish to work. Working at home using IT skills should be encouraged more. Thus the employment rate of disabled persons will rise and hopefully taxpayers will also increase. I hear that this year there is a rehabilitation center, which is going to start a job-supporting program. In future the actual services available will play a very important role. Employees with disabilities can find their lives more worth living by working, and will upgrade the quality of their lives by spending the money earned more efficiently, and by contributing to the overall economic development. I expect that the life of persons with disabilities and the elderly will improve, as this unified Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare begins to function in a desirable way.


Article provided by Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities