Labor ministry proposes clearer rules for disability training providers

The labor ministry said it has proposed clearer oversight and sanction rules for private vocational-training providers serving people with disabilities, citing ambiguous provisions on improper claims and the termination of outsourced training contracts. It said the current notice mixes the terms 'termination' and 'cancellation' for outsourced contracts, while the legal basis for improper-claim dispositions is unclear.

The revision would give inspectors an explicit basis to assess whether private institutions properly claim, spend and manage training costs under the support program. Current rules have incomplete provisions on inspections of training costs. The ministry said the revised inspection form would specify verification of whether training was actually carried out and other inspection items.

The rules would clarify the applicable scope for dispositions concerning improper claims by private training providers under the National Lifelong Vocational Competency Development Act. The ministry said the current improper-claim provisions do not clearly state their delegation basis in the law on employment promotion and vocational rehabilitation for people with disabilities.

The draft would use one term for outsourced contracts and let providers whose contracts are terminated face support bans of three months to two years instead of an automatic two-year exclusion. Training courses already in progress could continue receiving support until they end after a provider's outsourcing contract is terminated.

The revision would establish a basis to recover improperly received funds and make additional collections by applying standards in the National Lifelong Vocational Competency Development Act. It would also explicitly list outsourcing restrictions and additional collection amounts among the adverse actions subject to deliberation and adjustment by the training support council.

Notice No. 2026-402, issued Aug. 10 under the Administrative Procedures Act, seeks public views on the draft. The labor ministry will accept comments from organizations and individuals until 6 p.m. on Aug. 31. Submissions must include itemized opinions, including reasons for support or opposition, as well as the submitter's name, telephone number and address.