Japan’s Ministries Admit Data Manipulation on Disabled Employment Quota

On Wednesday, Japan investigates the ministries about the reports on routinely overstating the total disabled staffs in order to reach its legal quota, according to an official. The investigation started upon reports from the local media stated that the nd and internal affairs ministries falsified the data on employing workers with disability. The issue became widespread as further reports claimed this week about the same practice of the local government and other ministries.

In the previous fiscal year, the Japanese government set a quota of 2.3 percent for disabled government employees and 2.0 percent for the private industry. In 2017, the ministries reported that there were 2.49 percent of disabled workers and the alleged cheating may indicate an offense against the law.

According to the country’s public broadcasting organization NHK, the ministries had 6,000 handicapped staffs in June but government sources showed that more than 1,000 of laborers were not disabled. Other press agencies reported higher figures about the manipulation made by some local governments. Moreover, Internal affairs minister Seiko Noda confirmed about the data manipulation.