As amendments to the Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials were resolved at the Cabinet Meeting on 18 February 2020, more opportunities will be offered to persons with severe disabilities with alleviated recruitment requirements for career positions and priority given to their appointment even if there are no vacant positions.
As a follow-up measure to last year's 'Scheme for More Jobs and Better Working Environments for Persons with Disabilities', the amendments include the following:
- Persons with severe disabilities who wish to take employment examinations (below Grade 8) are now required to have two years of work experience or a bachelor's degree in the related field.
- Previously, persons with severe disabilities had to have three years of working career or a master's degree or above in the related field, just as their non-disabled counterparts.
- Hence, considerations were taken into account with respect to the fact that persons with severe disabilities face more challenges than their non-disabled or mildly-disabled counterparts when acquiring work experience or educational qualifications.
- Medalists of the International Abilympics for Persons with Disabilities and the National Skills Competition for Persons with Disabilities are also qualified for recruitment for career positions for persons with severe disabilities.
- If in excess of the prescribed number of staff members, appointment of persons with severe disabilities will take precedence, leading to more active endeavors to recruit persons with disabilities.
- Previously, when each agency conducted their own recruitment examinations for career positions, it was possible for them to appoint new employees only when there were vacant positions at the agency.
(*Now, the concerned agency will be required to follow up by securing the staff quota.)
According to MPM Minister Hwang Seo-chong, the amendments to the Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials will provide an opportunity for persons with severe disabilities, who find it relatively more challenging to land a job, to enter the civil service sector.