Starbucks Korea receives award for equal opportunity employment

By Won Ho-jung

Published : April 6, 2016 - 18:13

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Lee Seock-koo, head of Starbucks Korea, has received a presidential medal for the coffee chain’s efforts to provide equal workplace opportunities for people with disabilities, the company said Wednesday.

The CEO was given the award at an annual convention to promote employment of the disabled. It was organized by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the state-run Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled.

Starbucks Korea CEO Lee Seock-koo (right) receives a presidential medal from Labor Minister Lee Ki-kwon for Starbucks’ promotion of equal opportunity employment for people with disabilities, at a ceremony in Seoul on Wednesday. (Starbucks)

“Starbucks will continue to work to develop a workplace environment where people with or without disabilities can work happily, and to increase employment for social minorities,” Lee said in a statement.

Starbucks Korea began hiring people with disabilities in 2007. In 2012, the company signed an agreement with KEAD to begin a training program for baristas with disabilities.

Currently, 127 disabled people who suffer from hearing, mental and intellectual impairments work with Starbucks in various capacities and there is no discrimination in promotional decisions, according to the company.

By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)

Starbucks Korea receives award for equal opportunity employment

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