[Reporter’s Notebook] FSS Replaces “1%” Disability Employment with Money

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] 8 out of 141. Last year, only about 5% of the employees selected by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) were persons with disabilities. Among the total 2,123 employees, only 1.6% (36 people) are employees with disabilities.

The mandatory employment ratio stipulated in the Act on the Promotion of Employment for Persons with Disabilities and the Enforcement Decree of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act was also not met. The current law requires employers with 50 or more regular employees since 2019 to employ persons with disabilities at a rate of 3.1% of the total workforce.

The number of hires is also decreasing every year. According to data submitted by FSS to Oh Ki-hyung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, 40 persons with disabilities were hired by the FSS in 2016. This accounted for 16.8% of the 237 people selected that year. Although the total number of employees (2,122) was similar to now, the number of employees with disabilities was higher at 59.

Instead, the employment contribution fee paid by the FSS has increased. The contribution fee is money paid when the mandatory employment ratio is not met. In 2018, the FSS did not pay any contribution fees, but a year later, it paid 156.3 million KRW. The contribution fee jumped significantly to 254.57 million KRW last year.

The FSS states that it is actively exploring job roles that employees with disabilities can take on. Since the FSS’s main tasks, such as supervision and inspection, involve many external duties like dispute mediation, they are looking for suitable tasks to assign.

However, merely finding tasks that persons with disabilities can “handle” is insufficient. If non-disabled employees can perform certain tasks, persons with disabilities should also be able to take on those tasks. It is nonsense that 99% of tasks are considered “unfit” for persons with disabilities in a country where a visually impaired member of the National Assembly represents the people and even engages in legislative activities.

The employment system for persons with disabilities was established to guarantee the individual's “right to happiness” by the state. Members of society with disabilities should also be able to enjoy a dignified life through employment. Imposing employment obligations on government ministries and workplaces means that institutions should bear at least minimal social responsibility.

Currently, the social agenda of “employment of persons with disabilities” seems to be resolved not through hiring but through money. If the FSS dislikes such criticism, it should take the lead in proactive hiring of persons with disabilities beyond just job development.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.