Lawyers group protests against suspension of welfare payments in disaster-hit area

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) issued a statement on June 15 expressing concerns over local governments that have stopped payments of welfare benefits to victims of the March 11 disaster who received emergency donations.

Sony dismisses many disaster-hit workers, while discussing restoration

Sony Corporation, a member of the governmental Reconstruction Conference, has announced its intent to dismiss over 150 temporary workers at its subsidiary in disaster-hit Miyagi Prefecture, using the March 11 disaster as an excuse to downsize business operations.

Reconstruction law may help promote deregulation

A basic law for post-disaster reconstruction, paving the way for further deregulation under the guise of revitalization of the Tohoku region, was enacted at an Upper House plenary session on June 20, with a majority vote of the Democratic, Liberal Democratic, Komei, People’s New, and Social Democratic parties.