"Disability Organizations Demand Improvement of Employment Programs for Severely Disabled, Indefinite Sit-in at Seoul Employment Office"

Minister of Employment Demands Apology Over the Death of the Late Seol Yohan

Photo by Jeon-guk Jang-aein Chabyeol Cheolpae Yeondae Facebook.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A disability organization began an indefinite sit-in protest at the Seoul Employment and Labor Office on the 28th, demanding an apology from the Minister of Employment and Labor for the death of the late Seol Yohan, who participated in the government's employment project for people with severe disabilities.

The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) set up tents and banners in the lobby on the first floor of the Seoul Employment Office in Jung-gu, Seoul, starting their protest from the morning. They displayed a portrait of Mr. Seol along with banners and flyers reading, "Minister Lee Jae-gap of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, guarantee labor rights for people with severe disabilities" and "Guarantee public jobs for people with severe disabilities."

Mr. Seol, who had a brain lesion disability, had been participating in the government's "Severe Disability Regional Customized Employment Support Project" since April last year, helping people with severe disabilities in Yeosu City, Jeollanam-do find employment, and passed away last month during this work.

The disability organization claims that Mr. Seol died under pressure from the project structure, which involved a considerable workload and salary cuts if performance targets were not met.

Jeonjangyeon stated, "If the system is not improved, such deaths may recur," urging, "The payment system for the severe disability employment support project must be changed from performance-based to monthly salary-based." They further emphasized, "A fundamental shift in disability labor policy must be achieved through the guarantee of public jobs."

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