We’ve stumbled across yet more bureaucracy here in China: for every 100 employees each company must hire 1.7 disabled people. This can include both physical as well as mental disabilities – but failure to hire any means paying a ‘fee’ to the government or else your company would not pass the annual tax inspection (年检). Like much else in this country, this is complete bullshit…
I’m not in support of discrimination, but such policies do nothing to increase tolerance and reduce prejudice. In a society lacking anti-discrimination laws, forcing a quota does nothing to ensure the welfare and conditions of the disabled who are hired, and offering an ‘exemption’ by charging companies is just testament to the true goal of the Chinese government: to use every excuse to squeeze as much out of you as possible. Proceeds from this fund don’t get ploughed back into the disabled – the support offered to the handicapped here is, quite simply, dismal at best.
If the government was sincere about about the welfare of the handicapped it would do further to educate employers that hiring should be based upon merit, not physical attributes. Improved legislation and legal procedures should be in place to ensure that disabled employees are not shortchanged and offered discriminatory packages based simply on their disadvantage. And if that’s too naive, bonuses can be provided to employers who create opportunities for disabled employees: a carrot incentive, rather than relying on the stick.
For a company of five, insiting upon a disabled worker may not be feasible for us right now (none applied). As we grow i’d be more than happy to hire suitable handicapped candidates. However this should be out of our belief in their abilities – not just to fulfill a government quota. Doing that would just be an insult to the disabled community.