Demands to PM Koizumi at Govt./Labor Meeting Budget for Safe & Reliable Pension System Reform/Unemployment Measures (4 Dec 2003)

On December 3, RENGO met with Prime Minister Koizumi at the Prime Minister’s official residence to hold their “Government-Labor Meeting.” In order to relieve the severe deflationary depression and the high jobless rate, RENGO demanded that the government to compile a budget for the new fiscal year that centers on measures for economic revival and job creation, and that the government should reform the pension system, into one that is safe and reliable while raising the government liability rate for basic pensions to one half. President Sasamori, Vice President Hirasawa (RENGO Policy Committee Chair), General Secretary Kusano represented RENGO, while Prime Minister Koizumi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda, Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Sakaguchi were among the attendees from the government. Prime Minister Koizumi recognized that the idea of establishing something like a “social security research commission” discussion forum was worth considering. HLW Minister Sakaguchi revealed that he plans to introduce a Japanese version of the Dual System* initially on a 40,000-people scale. (*A vocational education system for qualifying students conducted jointly by companies and schools.) Finally, both sides reaffirmed their intention to continue mutual dialog in the future and closed the meeting.

Budget for Safe & Reliable Pension System Reform/Unemployment Measures PM Koizumi Received Demands at Today’s Govt./Labor Meeting

Today, December 3, RENGO met with Prime Minister Koizumi at the Prime Minister’s official residence to hold their “Government-Labor Meeting.” In order to relieve the severe deflationary depression and the high jobless rate, RENGO demanded that the government to compile a budget for the new fiscal year that centers on measures for economic revival and job creation, and that the government should reform the pension system, into one that is safe and reliable while raising the government liability rate for basic pensions to one half. President Sasamori, Vice President Hirasawa (RENGO Policy Committee Chair), General Secretary Kusano represented RENGO while Prime Minister Koizumi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda, Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Sakaguchi were among the attendees from the government. Led by President Sasamori, RENGO demanded the following based on current important issues and budget compilation for the new fiscal year.

[1] We must lower the unemployment rate to the 4 percentile now. RENGO will seek to fortify measures to achieve this by holding an Employment Promotion Council among Government-Labor-Management. [2] We should introduce a Japanese version of the Dual System on a 200,000-person scale along with living standard guarantees for young prospective workers. [3] On pension system reform, increasing the government’s liability on basic pensions to one half is guaranteed by law and we want the government to clearly show by the end of the year that it will implement it. [4] To radically reform the pension system, we must see results in the political arena after comprehensive discussion on comprehensive tax/social security. In this way, we hope the government will establish a consultation body, along the lines of a “social security research commission” within the Diet in order to have a bipartisan discussion on matters. [5] When reforming the tax system, we urge the government to resolve such differential problems as the “9-6-4*(KU-RO-YON)” issue.    *“9-6-4” refers inequities in the income apprehension rate applied by the Tax Office’s assessment of reported income. It is currently estimated that 90% of all wage earning workers incomes, 60% of the self-employed, and 40% of all agricultural workers incomes are accurately reported. [6] RENGO wants the government to earmark a budget to fortify support measures for small to mid-sized businesses. [7] RENGO opposes sending the Japan Self-Defense Force to Iraq. [8] RENGO requests that the Prime Minister attend the ICFTU World Congress scheduled to be held in Miyazaki next December.

In response, Prime Minister Koizumi recognized that the idea of establishing something like a “social security research commission” discussion forum was worth considering and acknowledged that support for small to mid-sized businesses is an important issue. He also said that holding the ICFTU World Congress in Japan is a welcome matter. Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Sakaguchi revealed that he plans to introduce a Japanese version of the Dual System initially on a 40,000-people scale. Finally, both sides reaffirmed their intention to continue mutual dialog in the future and closed the meeting.

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