Way to halt decline in birth rate -- Akahata editorial, July 2 (abridged)

In 2003, Japan's birth rate was only 1.29 children for each woman in their life cycle, showing an extraordinary decline.

In most of the highly developed capitalist countries where birth rates increased in the 1990s, women's participation in the labor market increased. This tendency has applied to Japan during the past twenty years.

This refutes the argument that an increase in the number of working women contributes to a lower birth rate.

Steps must be taken in Japan to eradicate gender discrimination. A Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare survey shows that nearly half of women with full-time jobs had to quit after having a child.

It is also important to note that the prolonged economic recession had discouraged young couples from having babies.

One in every five young people has low-paying part-time or other unstable jobs. They are unable to become economically independent enough to raise children.

At a time when young people in their twenties have difficulty in finding jobs, male workers in their thirties are being forced to endure excessively long hours of work.

With a rapid increase of women part-timers, a larger number of young families are waiting for child care centers to accept their babies/children. The Koizumi Cabinet has taken no effective steps to overcome this issue.

In order to help young couples have and bring up more babies without economic difficulties, the government should take steps to eliminate excessively long hours of work at low wages by establishing regulations ensuring that people can work under decent working conditions.

Also, steps must be taken to help young couples have children and work at the same time.

The fall in the birth rate reflects a deep social crisis. Only when Japan's politics are shifted to curb this tendency can people have confidence in their future prospects. (end)