Ministry of Health and Welfare "Priority Purchase System for Products Made by Persons with Severe Disabilities... Regional Training Sessions Underway"

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 2nd that it will conduct regional training sessions on the priority purchase system for products made by persons with severe disabilities for purchasing officers at 1,039 public institutions nationwide.

The regional training, conducted to encourage the purchase of products made by persons with severe disabilities, will be held face-to-face for the first time in four years since 2019, following the stabilization of COVID-19. According to the “Special Act on the Priority Purchase of Products Made by Persons with Severe Disabilities,” public institutions must prioritize purchasing at least 1% of their total purchase amount from products made by persons with severe disabilities. To support vocational rehabilitation and economic activities of persons with disabilities, the government has designated 762 production facilities for products made by persons with severe disabilities, producing about 200 items such as distribution panels and copy paper. Currently, approximately 14,000 workers with disabilities participate in the production process and earn income.

Example of products made by persons with severe disabilities: Paper
[Image source=Pixabay]

The target attendees for the regional training on the priority purchase system for products made by persons with severe disabilities are purchasing officers from 1,039 public institutions subject to priority purchase in 2023. The training content includes guidance on the priority purchase system for products made by persons with severe disabilities, introduction of production and sales facilities for such products within the region, instructions on purchasing methods through the direct contract agency system, and other matters related to reporting priority purchase plans. Starting on the 3rd in Jeonbuk, the training will be held in Gwangju on the 6th. Seoul, where many public institutions are concentrated, will hold the training over two days on the 13th and the 5th of next month.

To encourage active participation in the training by public institutions, four hours of continuous learning time will be recognized, and exhibition and promotional booths will be operated together so that purchasing officers can directly see products made by persons with severe disabilities and decide on purchases. Those wishing to attend the training can apply online through the “Priority Purchase Management System.”

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