On July 25, 2023, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) released drafts of the Revised “Handling Directions to Eliminate Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities in Relation to Projects under the MLIT’s Jurisdiction” and similar documents, and began soliciting public opinions.

The Act to Eliminate Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Act to Eliminate Disability Discrimination) (Act No. 65 of 2013) stipulates that the national government and local governments shall establish Handling Guidelines of their own and that the competent ministers shall prepare Handling Directions to promote voluntary contributions by business sectors in their jurisdiction. Accordingly, ministries and agencies have established their Handling Guidelines and Handling Directions.

As the “Act Partially Amending the Act to Eliminate Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities ” (Act No. 56 of 2021) makes reasonable accommodation obligatory for private businesses as of April 1, 2024, governmental agencies such as ministries and local governments have been revising their Handling Guidelines and Directions.

In this background, MLIT has released its drafts of the Revised “Handling Direction to Eliminate Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities in Relation to Projects under the MLIT’s Jurisdiction” and the Revised “Handling Guidelines to Eliminate Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities in MLIT.”

Since many public transportation companies are under MLIT’s jurisdiction, the contents of the Handling Directions will be the focus of attention.

The draft of the Revised Handling Direction provides detailed explanations of reasonable accommodation and includes many examples of its provision.

For more information, please visit the website below:
https://public-comment.e-gov.go.jp/servlet/Public?CLASSNAME=PCMMSTDETAIL&id=155230110&Mode=0