June 7, 2012
Akahata editorial (excerpts)
Japan’s birthrate stood at 1.39 in 2011, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and the number of children born last year fell by 2,606 to a record low 1,050,698.
The decline in the birthrate in Japan is the most serious among developed countries and shows no sign of ending.
According to a survey concerning the low birthrate conducted by the Cabinet Office last year, while over 80 percent of respondents think that they want two or three children, more than half answered they will not or cannot have as many children as they want. The most common reason given for this is, “because it costs too much to raise and educate children” (40 percent).
The average annual disposable income of workers in their 20s and 30s drastically dropped by 250,000 yen and 220,000 yen respectively between 2000 and 2010 due to the increase in the number of low-wage temporary workers. This situation was caused by the “structural reform” policy promoted by the LDP-Komei government.
It is inexcusable for society to force many young people to give up having children because of economic difficulties and job insecurities.
One in five men aged 30-39 years are working 60 hours per week, and 60 percent of women leave work after they give birth. Such a labor environment must be changed in order to create better conditions for employed parents to raise their children.
The government should urgently implement appropriate measures to ease burdens on young workers and provide proper childcare support.
Japan’s birthrate stood at 1.39 in 2011, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and the number of children born last year fell by 2,606 to a record low 1,050,698.
The decline in the birthrate in Japan is the most serious among developed countries and shows no sign of ending.
According to a survey concerning the low birthrate conducted by the Cabinet Office last year, while over 80 percent of respondents think that they want two or three children, more than half answered they will not or cannot have as many children as they want. The most common reason given for this is, “because it costs too much to raise and educate children” (40 percent).
The average annual disposable income of workers in their 20s and 30s drastically dropped by 250,000 yen and 220,000 yen respectively between 2000 and 2010 due to the increase in the number of low-wage temporary workers. This situation was caused by the “structural reform” policy promoted by the LDP-Komei government.
It is inexcusable for society to force many young people to give up having children because of economic difficulties and job insecurities.
One in five men aged 30-39 years are working 60 hours per week, and 60 percent of women leave work after they give birth. Such a labor environment must be changed in order to create better conditions for employed parents to raise their children.
The government should urgently implement appropriate measures to ease burdens on young workers and provide proper childcare support.
