Opinions on the first National Report of
Korea on the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities
persons with severe disabilities paid them hourly wages below the minimum
wage and, in particular, 21 workplaces (15%) paid less than the minimum
wage even without acquiring the approval of Minister of Employment and
Labor.
③ Major OECD countries have the ‘Subsidized Employment System’ whereby the
government subsidizes part of wages for persons with severe disabilities so
that they do not get paid less than the minimum wage by reason of low
productivity. However, Korea has no such systems to supplement the clause of
the Minimum Wage Act, which waivers the minimum wage on persons with
disabilities.
2) Recommendation
① The Convention requires State Parties to take appropriate measures to protect
the rights of persons with disabilities so that equal pay can be earned for equal
work. Therefore, the government should first examine the current status of all
workplaces that pay persons with disabilities below the minimum wage and put
them under strict management and supervision in order to prevent the abuse
of the minimum wage waiver clause.
② In addition, it is necessary for the government to implement policies to
subsidize the wage of persons with disabilities, so as to guarantee them the
minimum wage and stabilize their livelihood.
14.2 Employment Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities
1) current status and problems
① To let persons with disabilities exercise the rights to work and lead a life of their
own constitutes the highest level of full social inclusion and sets the foundation
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