Japan Press Weekly

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2018 August 15 - 21 [POLITICS]

JCP Koike demands probe into government ministries’ alleged falsification of disabled employed

It has come to light that several government ministries have allegedly falsified employment rates for disabled people in violation of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act. The Labor Ministry recognizes that this illegal practice began in 1976 when the current quota system was introduced, and is now conducting investigations.

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on August 18 said to reporters at the JCP head office, “It is unforgivable for government offices to manipulate figures regarding the employment of disabled persons. The JCP demands disclosure of full information in regard to the allegation.”

Referring to the 2017 White Paper on Persons with Disabilities which the Abe Cabinet has approved, Koike pointed out that the annual government report states that public organizations at both the national and local levels are required to employ disabled persons at a higher rate than private companies as they are in a position to set a better example. Koike said that the ministries’ doctoring of the figures on the number of disabled employed should be dealt as a serious problem.

Koike cited media reports that manipulation of numbers has continued for 42 years and that among government ministries and agencies, only the National Police Agency denied the allegation of fabricating data. Koike said, “It is hard to believe that several ministries coincidentally fabricated the number of disabled people they hired over the same period of years. The falsification has been carried out systematically. It is totally unacceptable.”

Noting that it is necessary to hold a Diet meeting during the recess, Koike said, “Jointly with other opposition parties, the JCP will work hard to dig up the truth, clarify where the responsibility lies, and demand improvement of the government measures to support the employment of disabled persons.”

The Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act requires private companies and national and local public entities to hire a certain number of people with disabilities with the aim of ensuring disabled persons have the opportunities to exercise their abilities in the workplace as part of their social participation. The law sets a target employment ratio of disabled persons to total employees in private companies and public entities, respectively. Following the revision in April this year, the target rate for private companies increased to 2.2% from the previous 2.0% and for public organizations to 2.5% from 2.3%.

Past related article:
> Gov’t will ban job discrimination against intractable disease patients [June 7, 2013]