Public Institutions to Make Priority Purchase of Products from People with Disabilities Mandatory

The Suwon City Council will enact an ordinance that mandates public institutions to prioritize the purchase of products made by people with disabilities.

The 'Suwon City Ordinance on Promotion of Priority Purchase of Products by the Disabled,' jointly proposed by five council members including Committee Chair Noh Young-gwan of the Culture and Welfare Committee, and council members Baek Jeong-seon, Lee Jae-seon, Jeon Ae-ri, and Jeon Yong-du, is based on Article 44 (Product Purchase) of the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act and Article 7 (Promotion of Public Institution Purchases) of the Special Act. The ordinance covers the scope of public institutions required to prioritize purchases of products made by the disabled, the establishment of purchase plans, and mandatory priority purchase obligations.

The ordinance, which passed the original text review at the Culture and Welfare Committee on the 13th, designates ▲Suwon City and its affiliated administrative agencies ▲research institutes, investment institutions, and public enterprises under the city as priority purchase target institutions. The mayor is required to establish a priority purchase implementation plan each year at the beginning of the year to promote and activate the purchase of products made by the disabled.

Additionally, the mayor may support facility and equipment enhancement projects for product production and technological development at facilities that produce products made by the disabled within the city. Priority purchase target institutions that receive requests to increase purchases from welfare facilities or organizations for the disabled are to comply unless there are special circumstances. The ordinance also allows the city to request priority purchase cooperation from religious facilities, public organizations, schools, and businesses within the city.

The ordinance will be finalized at the vote during the 275th Temporary Session's 2nd Regular Meeting scheduled for the 18th.

Regarding this, Committee Chair Noh stated, "Through the enactment of the ordinance promoting priority purchase of products made by the disabled, we expect it will provide stable employment opportunities for people with disabilities as well as offer significant economic and social benefits," clarifying the purpose of the ordinance.

Meanwhile, approximately 38,400 people with disabilities are registered in Suwon City, and there are nine vocational rehabilitation facilities for the disabled, including the Suwon Elim Work Activity Facility, which produces items such as gloves and plastic bags.