Ewha Hakdang Achieves 3.25% Employment Rate for People with Disabilities

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon visited the Ewha Hakdang's subsidiary standard workplace for people with disabilities, I-Soo Management, to review measures for expanding job opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

On June 5, Kim visited the Ewha Seoul Hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where he encouraged disabled workers employed by I-Soo Management and assessed the current operational status of the workplace.

The subsidiary standard workplace system allows companies or institutions to establish separate subsidiaries focused on employing individuals with disabilities. This system is characterized by identifying suitable job roles for disabled individuals and improving working conditions to provide stable employment.

In particular, subsidiary standard workplaces are considered a key means of creating jobs for individuals with developmental disabilities. Among the disabled workers in these workplaces, 65.3% are individuals with developmental disabilities. The proportion of young disabled individuals with developmental disabilities also rose to 69.6% last year, indicating a growing demand for tailored job opportunities.

I-Soo Management is recognized as a leading example of disability employment within the school corporation sector. It has developed various job roles, including operating convenience stores and cafes, supporting hospital operations, manufacturing and delivering ready-to-eat meals, and producing baked goods, employing over 100 individuals with developmental disabilities.

Additionally, I-Soo Management collaborates with Ewha Womans University's Special Education Department, Department of Physical Education, College of Art and Design, and Music Therapy Department to run sports, cultural, and leisure programs that support workplace adaptation and social participation for disabled workers.

Thanks to these efforts, the overall employment rate for individuals with disabilities at the parent organization, Ewha Hakdang, has steadily improved. The employment rate rose from 1.50% in 2020 to 3.25% last year, surpassing the mandatory employment rate of 3.1%.

The government provides up to 1.5 billion won in facility investment support for businesses establishing standard workplaces for individuals with disabilities, along with employment consulting, incentives for hiring disabled individuals, and after-work activity support for those with developmental disabilities to help maintain employment.

Kim stated, "Employment for individuals with disabilities is not just about providing job opportunities; it is the first step toward social integration. We will actively support the dissemination of best practices, such as identifying suitable job roles for individuals with disabilities, across schools and the healthcare sector." He also directed the formation of a task force to develop practical support measures for expanding employment for individuals with disabilities.