{
  "id": 8639990,
  "title": "Employment of people with disabilities: Urgent regulation of businesses needed to end improper practices",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/employment-of-people-with-disabilities-urgent-regulation-of",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-20T07:31:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
    "slug": "the-japan-news-by-the-yomiuri-shimbun",
    "url": "https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20260920-349751/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry is considering new regulations for businesses that provide employment opportunities to people with disabilities, in order to address improper practices and ensure proper oversight. Currently, there are no specific regulations governing these businesses, which operate under the guise of helping people with disabilities find work. However, there are 46 such companies nationwide, and over 1,800 companies use their services to find employment opportunities for people with disabilities.\n\nOne example of the issues surrounding these businesses is Thankslab Inc., a Naha-based company that operates a staffing business. Some people with disabilities hired by companies through Thankslab were not given meaningful work, but instead were tasked with studying at home. Other companies left virtually all aspects of managing the employment of people with disabilities to the third-party agency, leading to feelings of neglect and health issues among the employees.\n\nThe employment services market is expanding, in part due to the statutory employment quota established under the Law to Facilitate the Employment of Persons with Disabilities. As of July, companies with over a certain size are required to employ 2.7% of their workforce as people with disabilities. Many companies struggle with determining appropriate work for people with disabilities, turning to agencies for assistance. However, there are cases where the work takes place at locations unrelated to the company's core business, leading to criticism that the principle of \"working together\" is being disregarded.\n\nIdeally, employees with disabilities should work in the same office as others, performing tasks that align with their abilities. Some companies assign meticulous work to people who excel at focusing intensely on a single task. While creating a fulfilling workplace for people with disabilities is challenging, companies are encouraged to use these examples as a reference as they explore potential solutions.\n\nThe government should not only raise the statutory employment quota but also support companies in developing employment systems that meet the individual needs of people with disabilities. It is essential for companies to respect the desires of people with disabilities and assign them to work environments that suit their individual characteristics, ensuring that they become valuable assets to their companies.",
  "summary": "Hiring people with disabilities in name only while depriving them of opportunities to demonstrate their abilities is an affront to the very principles of employment for people with disabilities. It is necessary to regulate businesses to end improper practices and work toward rectifying the situation.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ministry considers new regulations for disability employment businesses.",
    "46 companies nationwide operate without specific regulations.",
    "Thankslab Inc. example shows improper practices in disability employment."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}