Japan Press Weekly
Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan
Google Our Site:

Japan Press Weekly www

Number of households on welfare hits record high

The number of households receiving welfare benefits hit record highs for the past eight consecutive years, due to the economic downturn and job scarcity.

The welfare ministry on October 7 published a report stating that the monthly average number of households on welfare reached 1,148,766, up 43,491 from the previous year, and that 1,592,620 people received the livelihood protection assistance.

Only less than 20 percent of those who are eligible for the assistance actually received the welfare benefits in Japan, extremely low compared to European countriesf 70-90 percent.

The Japanese Communist Party has demanded that the government expand the livelihood protection assistance as the safety net of last resort, take measures to prevent employers from arbitrarily dismissing non-regular employees or promoting illegal corporate restructuring schemes, and provide job training and housing assistance for the unemployed.
- Akahata, October 8, 2009


Copyright (c) Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. All right reserved
info@japan-press.co.jp