Interlacing of Employment Policy and Social Work: Employment Promotion Measures for Displaced Coal Miners and Supervisors in the “Energy Revolution Era”

Abstract

This study explores the interlacing of employment policy and social work, focusing on measures for displaced coal miners and supervisors for employment promotion. Recently, social work has expanded from social welfare policy to other policy realms, including educational, judicial and employment policies. Social work was used to influence employment policy when measures were introduced to assist displaced coal miners in 1963. Many coal mines were shut down due to the “Energy Revolution,” and numerous coal miners were displaced in all coalfields. The government enacted the Act on Temporary Measures for Displaced Coal Mine Workers in 1959. As a result of increased coal recession, this act was amended in 1963 to promote employment by including the job application pocketbook for unemployed coal miners. Simultaneously, supervisors for employment promotion began utilizing social casework for employment promotion, which was the first time social work was interlaced with employment policy. This study also investigates the case of the Tagawa Public Employment Security Office in the Chikuho coalfield.