National Human Rights Commission of Korea Annual Report 2015 deteriorate while people’s demand for an improved quality of life and pleasantness will only Part II Since it is inevitable to use and develop land, environmental conditions will continue to increase. To look for solutions, the Commission launched a survey from April to October improvements. The result of the survey suggested that providing information and allowing more participation of citizens in public projects are major measures to ensure citizens’ right to the environment. While a legal basis for these measures was already in place, however, citizens found the measures unsatisfactory. Therefore, the Commission issued a recommendation on December 23rd to provide clear and easy-to-understand information and allow more citizen’s access to the administrative process in public projects. It was part of the Commission’s effort to protect and promote environmental rights, prevent unnecessary dispute, and ensure the transparent and responsible progress of public projects. F. Survey to promote labor rights of the severely disabled The Commission conducted a survey on the working environment for the severely disabled from March to October on managers and operators, and the disabled, in occupational rehabilitation facilities across the country. The result of the survey suggested a very large income gap among the disabled: 35.8% of the respondents had monthly income ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 KRW; 15.8% ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 KRW; 11% less than 100,000 KRW; and 15% more than 1 million KRW. Of the respondents, 40% did not know how much they earn, 15.4% did not sign an employment contract; and 12.2% did not even know what an employment contract was. Also, many of them responded that their working environment is hard to put up with due to nasty smells, too much heat in the summer, or severe cold in the winter, highlighting the need to improve the situation. However, operators and staff in occupational rehabilitation facilities expressed their concerns on potential difficulties if minimum wage law were to be enforced to their facilities: 36.5% responded that it would lead to low productivity of the business; 32.4% responded that it would seriously hurt the bottom-line of their businesses and may result in closure of the facilities; and 22.3% responded that it would greatly discourage them to From employing the severely disabled. Part II Major Activities of NHRCK | 45 Major Activities of NHRCK on the situation of environmental right protection in public projects and research to make