Number of households on welfare hits record high

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Number of households on welfare hits record high

The number of households on public welfare assistance reached a record-high of 1,192,745 in March, up 14,478 from February.

The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare on June 5 reported that an average number of households on welfare per month increased by 43,491 to 1,148,766 in the FY 2008.

The report also said that 1,654,612 people actually received the assistance in March, and that the numbers continued to rise since late last year at a rapid pace of more than 10,000 people a month

Amid the global economic crisis that broke out last autumn, many corporations cut the jobs of temporary workers, worsening employment conditions. The unemployment rate in April jumped to 5.0 percent for the first time in 65 months.

Under the restraint policy on social welfare programs promoted by the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties, many people in need have been left out of welfare benefits. In spite of this fact, the number of households and the actual number of people on welfare have been on the increase. This reveals that government policy is a major factor contributing to the ongoing expansion of poverty in Japan.

- Akahata, June 7, 2009