Gyeonggi Province Invests Record-High 235.3 Billion Won in Job Creation for People with Disabilities

Gyeonggi Province will invest a record-high budget of 235.3 billion won this year for jobs for people with disabilities, creating 10,115 jobs for people with disabilities.

On February 25, Gyeonggi Province announced that it has drawn up this year's job creation plan for people with disabilities under the vision of "Promoting and revitalizing employment for people with disabilities to provide more opportunities, fairer opportunities, and better opportunities." The plan is divided into three major policy goals, four key tasks, and 29 detailed implementation projects.

Despite difficult fiscal conditions, the province increased the budget by 24 billion won (11.1 percent) compared to last year so that people with disabilities, who face greater challenges in economic activity than non-disabled people, can expand their social participation and economic self-reliance. As a result, the number of jobs for people with disabilities to be created will also increase by 952 (10.3 percent) compared to the previous year.

According to this plan, the number of customized jobs will be expanded in line with the type and degree of disability. The province will continue to provide opportunity allowances to trainees with disabilities who use vocational rehabilitation facilities for people with disabilities. In particular, it will strengthen training programs aimed at improving treatment for people with disabilities and supporting social value-creating activities within these facilities.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

In addition, the province will provide customized education and training programs to improve participants' work capabilities, including advanced vocational training for visually impaired massage therapists, vocational rehabilitation education programs for people with severe disabilities, a program to train taxi drivers, and a program to train assistive device managers for people with developmental disabilities.

Furthermore, public institutions under Gyeonggi Province will expand employment of people with disabilities to achieve the provincial target of a 5 percent employment rate for people with disabilities, which exceeds the statutory mandatory employment rate of 3.8 percent. The province will also work to expand the social responsibility of public institutions by strengthening the linkage between the youth internship program for people with disabilities and employment through the purchase of products made by people with disabilities.

Lee Eunju, head of the Independent Living Support Division for Persons with Disabilities at Gyeonggi Province, said, "Due to population aging and economic recession, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people with disabilities to participate in economic activities, but we will make joint efforts between the public and private sectors so that people with disabilities can find jobs that match their abilities and aptitudes."