RENGO held the 21st Central Executive Committee Meeting on February 15 to approve the 2nd stage of its policy for the 14th Unified Local Election. RENGO decided to work positively with the 14th Unified Local Election regarding it as an election that will be a significant step toward building more livable communities in the 21st century. RENGO will continue developing actions based on its basic five-point policies.

RENGO's Basic Policy for the Unified Local Election

(1) Build an active community that local residents can participate in.

1. Strive to support resident-centered communities while encouraging the transfer of authority and finances to those communities.
2. Implement systems and measures to create a local community of resident participation, and promote significant participation by everyday citizens. Further, promote the systemization and utilization of the freedom of information system, a citizen's ombudsman system, a "public suggestion system," and a system to examine the state of councils and assemblies that allow for citizen participation.
3. Work to build locally based, safe and dynamic towns, while at the same time fostering industry and streamlining the living environment.
4. Promote a gender-equal society.

(2) Seek economic recovery and job creation in order to stabilize and improve living standards.

1. Create social capital for living standards and welfare in order to revitalize the economy. Also improve tax cuts and provisions.
2. Bring about the Million Job Creation for full-employment and the stabilization of living standards.
3. Lay down economic and industrial plans to attract and foster businesses and industries based on local properties.
4. Balance the industrial structure by revitalizing leading mid-sized firms and small to mid-sized companies.
5. Bring about radical change in the financial structure to sustain stable living standards and welfare.

(3) Build a people-friendly welfare society through social solidarity.

1. Establish a social security system with a safe and reliable pension, medical care and nursing care.
2. Foster a social environment where children can be raised without fear.
3. Promote grass-roots movements and volunteer activities through support systems and other means.
4. Create barrier-free communities for children, seniors and the disabled.
5. Seek locally based, flexible education while respecting children's human rights.

(4) Build a comfortable, rewarding society for working people.

1. Stabilize employment. Correct differentials in working conditions.
2. Establish the "40-hours a week Rule" and fair working standards.
3. Build support for vocational development and training.
4. Enforce systems that secure suitable high-quality housing for life.

(5) Build an environment-conscious peaceful international society.

1. Create an economic society that re-circulates its resources and avoids wasting energy.
2. Recycle and reduce waste in an effort to change current lifestyles into more eco-friendly ones.
3. Promote international cooperation for world peace and global environmental conservation.
4. Further international cooperation that yields regional development in Asia.