A Historical Analysis of the Employment of People with Disabilities in Companies Not Covered by the Employment Rate System

Abstract

The employment rate system is at the heart of Japan’s policy on the employment of people with disabilities ; however, many people with disabilities are also employed by small companies to which the employment rate does not effectively apply. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the structure of employment of people with disabilities in companies that are not covered by the employment rate system. This study examines the history of employment of people with intellectual disabilities, approaching the reality of the situation concerning the employment of people with disabilities in companies not covered by the employment rate system. Specifically, the following three points will be clarified upon : 1） the employment of people with intellectual disabilities was on the rise even before the employment rate system became applicable ; 2） the wages of people with intellectual disabilities have been adjusted according to their abilities ; and 3） companies gave considerations to the characteristics of people with intellectual disabilities. Through these examinations, we show that people with intellectual disabilities are a conditionally functioning workforce in companies not covered by the employment rate system.