The Story Behind SJ Power Receiving Applause for Hiring 12 People with Developmental Disabilities

In the Challenging COVID-19 Job Market for People with Disabilities, SJ Power Hires 12 Individuals with Developmental Disabilities, Providing Employment Opportunities at COVID-19 Mask Production Site, Enhancing Disabled Workers' Sense of Achievement and Receiving Positive Feedback

People with developmental disabilities are receiving on-site training and pre-adaptation training for mask production to prepare for employment.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Amid the unprecedented difficulties in employment for people with disabilities due to COVID-19, a company has attracted attention by hiring 12 individuals with developmental disabilities and providing them with job opportunities to work at a COVID-19 mask production site.

SJ Power (CEO Shin Hang-cheol) has hired 12 people with developmental disabilities and is providing employment opportunities for them to work at a mask production site.

This achievement comes after last year’s agreement with the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled and, in July of this year, a partnership with Cheonan Inae School, an educational institution for people with developmental disabilities, to create jobs for people with disabilities, followed by continuous efforts.

The significance lies in seeking solutions for the career concerns of people with developmental disabilities after graduating from educational institutions and enabling them to take steps toward nurturing their dreams in life through social and economic independence as members of society by gaining employment.

Currently, at SJ Power’s Sejong factory, a total of 12 people?including 11 graduates with developmental disabilities from Inae School and one adult with a disability?have been participating in production activities such as packaging KF94 masks (Singgeurami) after undergoing on-site training and pre-adaptation exercises from the end of last month to mid-this month. The company also operates separate vehicles to provide commuting convenience for them to places like Cheonan Station.

A guardian of a person with developmental disabilities, Mr. A, said, “As a parent of a child with a disability, I was very worried about my child’s career path, but in a reality where even the general public finds it difficult to get employed due to COVID-19, having such job opportunities allows my children to play their roles as members of society and gain pride and independence. I am extremely happy and grateful for this precious opportunity.”

CEO Shin Hang-cheol stated, “Going forward, through facility expansion such as establishing a standard workplace for people with disabilities, we will strive to provide more suitable jobs for people with disabilities, inspiring them with social and economic achievements, and work harder to create a society where we live together with dreams and hope.”

Looking at the employment status of people with developmental disabilities last year, there are about 210,000 registered people with developmental disabilities in Korea, but the employment rate is only about 21%. According to Article 28 of the Act on the Promotion of Employment of Disabled Persons and the Vocational Rehabilitation Act and Article 25 of its Enforcement Decree, employers with 50 or more regular workers are obligated to employ at least 3.1% people with disabilities, and the mandatory employment rate for people with disabilities in the public sector is institutionalized to increase from the current 3.4% to 3.8% by 2024. However, except for a few companies, many do not hire them, making the reality challenging.

In this situation, SJ Power’s continuous efforts to hire people with disabilities despite being a small-scale company are very encouraging. Additionally, by donating 250,000 masks (Singgeurami) produced so far not only to people with developmental disabilities but also to senior welfare centers, traditional market merchants, foreign workers, and other marginalized groups in our society, the company provides a small but moving reminder to reconsider corporate social ethics of living together.