# FY2012 Promotion of Employment Support for Persons with Disabilities – Outline of Measures Related to Employment of Persons with Disabilities -

## I Reinforcement of Instructions to Attain Legally Mandated Employment Quota Ratio and Local Employment Support

1. Strengthening job-matching functions through promotion of “team support” implemented in cooperation between Hello Works and relevant local institutions and strict implementation of instructions on attaining the legally mandated employment quota ratio

The job-matching functions of Hello Works will be strengthened through “team support”, which provides consistent support from employment through to workplace adaptation via the establishment of “support teams for employment of persons with disabilities”, mainly implemented by Hello Works but also in cooperation with the relevant institutions, including local welfare institutions and schools for special needs education, etc., implementation of instructions for attaining the legally mandated employment quota ratio with the main focus on small- and medium-sized enterprises, and through holding job interview seminars, etc.

2. Implementation of community-based employment support in collaboration between labour and welfare

Efforts will be made to increase the number of locations where “Employment and Vocational Life Support Centers for Persons with Disabilities” are situated in thereby providing integrated guidance and support both in employment and their daily life in their neighborhoods and with the aim of establishing them in every health and welfare area for people with disabilities (361 as of April 2011), etc.

(Number of establishments: 322 Centers $ \rightarrow $ 327 Centers)

3. Promotion of trial employment projects for persons with disabilities

Short-term trial employment projects will be implemented in thus providing business operators with the opportunity to employ persons with disabilities and help persons with disabilities acquire practical abilities and a transition to regular employment. (Number of subjects: 9,000 persons → 9,200 persons)

## I I Enhancement/Reinforcement of Support Measures According to the Characteristics of the Individual Disability and Work Style

1. Implementation of comprehensive employment support according to the characteristics of the individual disability

(1) Reinforcement of specialized support for persons with disabilities at Hello Works

In response to a rapid increase in the number of new job seekers with mental disorders visiting Hello Works comprehensive and continued support will be provided through the placement of "comprehensive supporters for the employment of persons with disabilities" who can then provide consistent support for persons with mental disorders, including counseling, raising the awareness of enterprises, implementation of on-the-job training, and follow-ups after employment, etc.

(2) Utilization of subsidies to promote employment of persons with mental disorders, etc.

Efforts will be made to further promote the employment of persons with mental disorders, etc. and ensure workplace adaptation through utilization of subsidies for enterprises that are making the effort to develop workplaces wherein persons with mental disorders can work more easily, including the development of counseling systems, etc., and those implementing "step-up employment of persons with mental disorders, etc." with aim of gradually extending their work hours over a certain period of time toward regular employment and with consideration given to the characteristics of the individual disability of the person with the mental disorder, etc.

(3) Enhancement/reinforcement of support measures according to the characteristics of the individual disability of persons with developmental disabilities

The increased need for employment support for persons with developmental disabilities in recent years and number of job seekers with developmental disabilities being expected to increase in the future have resulted in the need for systematic employment support. Efforts will therefore be made to promote and secure employment of persons with developmental disabilities through expansion/reinforcement of support systems for persons with developmental disabilities at Hello Works and provision of subsidies for business operators that employ persons with developmental disabilities and implement the appropriate employment management, etc.

(4) Subsidy for employment development for persons with intractable diseases

Employment of persons with intractable diseases will be supported and issues with their employment management, etc. identified through the provision of subsidies for business operators that employ persons with intractable diseases and implement the appropriate employment management, etc.

### 2. Promotion of Challenge Employment

Persons with developmental disabilities and those with mental disorders, etc. will be employed as part-time workers at prefectural labour offices and Hello Works and then the transition to employment at general enterprises, etc. promoted according to their 1 to 3 years of work experience gained there.

3. Working-at-home support organization utilization projects (new)

Organizations that are working to increase the number of or actively implementing vocational courses, etc. for persons with disabilities are requested to take part, and organizations whose work is deemed highly effective in terms of support are then selected to have part of the expenses for that work subsidized.

## I II Discussion on employment measures for persons with disabilities toward ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

In order to respond to the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities the necessary discussions will continue to take place on measures that ensure a prohibition of discrimination on the basis of a disability in the areas of labour/employment and provision of reasonable consideration at workplaces, etc. and taking into consideration discussions of the Council to Promote Reform of the System for Persons with Disabilities.