The ILO/Korea Fund Benefits Social Partners and Disabled Persons in the Asia Pacific Region

The ILO and the Republic of Korea have entered into a partnership that has resulted in the sharing of the skills and experience of Korean professionals with their counterparts in other countries in the Asia Pacific region.  Fortunately, the issue of disability is one of the target areas for the joint human resource development activities.

In 2005, the resulting ILO/Korea Fund provided resources for two fellowship programmes that involved tapping the expertise of the Korea Employment Promotion Agency for the Disabled (KEPAD), the Government body that addresses the training and employment needs of disabled persons and administers the quota system. The first fellowship training programme addressed policy issues, with a particular focus on the implementation of the quota system, and the second training fellowship focused on vocational training for severely disabled persons. KEPAD offered in-kind contributions and participants stayed in KEPAD accommodations at its headquarters facility in Seoul and visited many of the training and employment centers for disabled persons it operates, including its technology center for developing assistive devices and IT solutions.

The first fellowship, entitled “Tripartite Training on Employment Promotion Policy and Administration of an Employment Quota System and Fund for People with Disabilities”, was attended by tripartite representatives from China, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam. A representative of the national disabled persons’ organization from each country also participated. All of the participating countries have a quota system of some sort, with varying degrees of success in its implementation. In contrast, Korea has effectively implemented its quota, established a rehabilitation fund based on levies received from companies that do not meet the quota, and also provides positive financial incentives for companies who do hire. 

The one-week workshop not only focused on Korea’s policies but provided participants with a first-hand look at the its training institutions, supported employment programmes, employment centers and even visited some disabled employees on-the-job. Since all participants prepared country studies and delivered presentations as part of the programme, there was a chance to learn from the experiences of the five participating countries. Participants also had a chance to learn about Korean culture, food and social life.

The second fellowship, “Skills Development Techniques and Employment Services for People with Severe Disabilities” was attended by two vocational training experts from each of the countries listed, except Sri Lanka.  Lasting for two weeks, participants had an opportunity to have in depth view of training disabled persons from the Korean context and to undertake many field visits where they could learn from the evaluators, trainers, placement staff and others. The opportunity for sharing among all the participants and learning about Korean culture were also built into the programme.

While both programmes were rated highly by the participants, the second fellowship programme on skills and services for people with severe disabilities was rated as most relevant (5 on a scale of 1 to 5) and was among the highest rated of all the ILO/Korea Fellowship programmes, which involved a total of four topics, five training programmes and four Korean training institutions.

This year the ILO/Korea Fund will sponsor one training fellowship in November 2006, entitled “Practical Approaches to Involving Business in the Training and Employment of People with Disabilities---Examples from Korea.” This fellowship will highlight the initiatives Korea has taken to encourage employers to abide by the quota system, its customized training initiatives that respond to employer specifications and prepare disabled persons for identified jobs, and its other partnerships with business, such as its supported employment programmes in restaurants, gas stations and other work settings.

Also as part of the 2007 initiative, a Korean training institution for disabled persons will establish a “sister school” relationship with a counterpart in Thailand. Through study tours and mutual collaboration, the schools are expected to support each other in their continued development to provide services to people with the most severe disabilities.

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