KDF submitted a statement for general discussion on the right of persons with disabilities to work and employment(CRPD Art. 27) organised by the UN CRPD Committee.
The general discussion will take place on 22 March and 24 March 2021(for more information, please visit https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/GeneralDiscussions.aspx).
KDF requested oral intervention on 24 March's discussion(topic: Best practices and recommendations on the right to work and employment for persons with disabilities).
As we all know, persons with disabilities, especially with severe disabilities are one of the most marginalised groups in the labour area. It is basically due to the concept of ‘work capacity.’ Society has long defined persons with disabilities as ‘incapable to work’. It leads to the charity-perspective even in the policies for the protection of this right of the persons with disabilities.
Thus, expressing our sincere support to the committee’s call for the elimination of ‘work capacity' or ‘fit for work’, KDF requests to include “the obligation of states parties to provide ‘right-based public jobs’ for the persons with severe disabilities” in General Comment 8.
Please find the attached word version of the statement for the general discussion.
Statement for the General discussion on the right of persons with disabilities to work and employment
-To leave no one behind, states parties should develop and
provide jobs that fit for the persons with severe disabilities
Korean Disability Forum / Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination
2021.03.15.
Thank you chair for organising this timely and valuable discussion. I’m Hanbyol Choi from Korean Disability Forum, we have cooperated with Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination to come up with the recommendations of today. As we all know, persons with disabilities, especially with severe disabilities are one of the most marginalised groups in the labour area. It is basically due to the concept of ‘work capacity.’
Thus, expressing sincere support to the committee’s call for the elimination of ‘work capacity’ or ‘fit for work’, we request to include “the obligation of states parties to provide ‘right-based public jobs’ for the persons with severe disabilities’” in General Comment 8.
1. It should be public jobs
Persons with severe disabilities are hardly employed in the private sector; as they evaluate labourers with productivity. Thus, to ensure their right to work, it is required for the public sector to provide jobs for persons with severe disabilities. Also, It is the government’s duty to substantialize public values and encourage citizens to engage in activities for the public value.
2. The jobs should be ‘fit for persons with severe disabilities’, instead fit people to the jobs
Everyone has the right to work. It is engraved in various international human rights regulations, including Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ILO Declaration of Philadelphia. In order not to leave anyone behind, governments should develop jobs for persons with severe disabilities who have long been deprived of this right to work, in accordance with the international human rights regulations.
For instance, in ROK, Seoul city kicked off this project in July 2020. The city employed persons with severe disabilities for three kinds of jobs for; artistic works, improving disability awareness, and advocacy. The persons with severe disabilities worked to promote and realise the UN CRPD in Korean society and they were all paid more than minimum wage. Their work improved disability awareness and broaden the concept of labour. Currently, the Korean government is planning to introduce jobs throughout the country from 2021. Hope that this can be world-widely adopted so that the persons with severe disabilities also can fulfill their right to work and participate in society.
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