Public Job Support... "Local Councils Must Fulfill Their Responsibilities"
Organizations for people with disabilities in Gwangju are urging the passage of a related ordinance in the main session to ensure that labor rights for people with severe disabilities in Nam-gu are guaranteed.
The Gwangju Disability Discrimination Abolition Solidarity (Jangchayeon) issued a statement on the 19th, saying, "The 'Rights-Based Customized Public Job Support Ordinance for People with Severe Disabilities' for guaranteeing the labor rights of people with the most severe disabilities is about to be legislated in the main session of the Gwangju Nam-gu Council," and added, "The council must fulfill its responsibility as a local council by enacting this ordinance in the upcoming main session."
The "Nam-gu Rights-Based Customized Public Job Support Ordinance for People with Severe Disabilities," proposed by Nam-gu council member Oh Youngsun, is scheduled to be submitted to the 3rd main session of the 2nd regular meeting of the 308th Gwangju Nam-gu Council on the 20th.
If this ordinance passes, it is expected that the labor rights of people with severe disabilities will be guaranteed, their social participation will be expanded, and the foundation for economic self-reliance will be established.
Jangchayeon stated, "The economic activity participation rate of people with disabilities in our country is about 40.9%, which is significantly lower than the 63.8% for non-disabled people," and added, "The employment rate for people with disabilities is only 37%, and for those with severe disabilities, it remains even lower at 20%. In particular, people with severe disabilities not only face difficulties entering the labor market itself but also find it nearly impossible to obtain stable jobs."
They said, "Although Gwangju City has also started a rights-based public job project, the actual form of the project has yet to be confirmed, and there is no basis for securing funding," and explained, "The rights-based customized public job support ordinance for people with severe disabilities proposed by the Gwangju Nam-gu Council clearly defines the concept and meaning of rights-based labor in a society centered on non-disabled people, includes the principle of prioritizing the employment of people with the most severe disabilities, and is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."
Jangchayeon also stated, "If this ordinance is approved, Nam-gu will be able to stably support the independent living of people with severe disabilities through jobs in the fields of advocacy, awareness improvement, and culture and arts," and Jangchayeon urged responsible approval of the original ordinance to ensure at least the minimum labor rights for the more than 5,000 people with severe disabilities in Nam-gu."
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