March 18, 2014
Akahata editorial (excerpt)
Lawyers and citizens organizations are raising their voices against a ministerial ordinance draft on the revised Livelihood Protection Law that the Welfare Ministry plans to enforce in July. If the law and the ordinance take effect as planned, they would discourage the use of the welfare payment system.
In the Diet discussion on the law, the government repeatedly denied its intention to restrict the right to apply for social security programs by saying that the operation of the livelihood protection system will not be changed even after the enforcement of the revised law. However, the draft ordinance regarding the operation of the law includes provisions which contradict these remarks.
The revised Livelihood Protection Law, which passed the Diet last December, has provisions which make it more difficult to apply for benefits, by such means as requiring applicants to submit a written application without exception and asking relatives of the applicant to support the person.
However, pushed by the outcry from citizens movements opposing the revision to the law and efforts by the Japanese Communist Party, the Welfare Minister repeatedly said in Diet sessions, “Operation of the social security system will not be changed.” The Welfare Committee of the House of Councilors adopted a resolution demanding that the national government instruct local government offices to not discourage eligible applicants from applying for the welfare benefits.
The draft ordinance, which the welfare ministry uploaded on its website in February, stresses that the application should be made in writing in principle, showing its intention to not accept oral applications unless there are special reasons. The draft also requires municipalities to send notice to relatives of applicants to see if they have the financial capability to support the applicant.
If the revised law is to be implemented under the proposed ordinance, it will be almost impossible to apply to the system through verbal request and many eligible applicants will give up applying because of the concern that his/her relatives will be required to support the person.
The Welfare Ministry will end accepting public comments on the draft ordinance on March 28 before finalizing it. In response to questioning by JCP member of the Lower House Takahashi Chizuko, Welfare Minster Tamura Norihisa at a Diet meeting said, “We will discuss the ordinance based on the collected comments.” The Welfare Ministry should listen to the voices of the general public and refrain from making an ordinance which will deter citizens from asking for public assistance.
Past related article:
> Japan bar association opposes adverse amendment to livelihood protection law [December 4, 2013]
Lawyers and citizens organizations are raising their voices against a ministerial ordinance draft on the revised Livelihood Protection Law that the Welfare Ministry plans to enforce in July. If the law and the ordinance take effect as planned, they would discourage the use of the welfare payment system.
In the Diet discussion on the law, the government repeatedly denied its intention to restrict the right to apply for social security programs by saying that the operation of the livelihood protection system will not be changed even after the enforcement of the revised law. However, the draft ordinance regarding the operation of the law includes provisions which contradict these remarks.
The revised Livelihood Protection Law, which passed the Diet last December, has provisions which make it more difficult to apply for benefits, by such means as requiring applicants to submit a written application without exception and asking relatives of the applicant to support the person.
However, pushed by the outcry from citizens movements opposing the revision to the law and efforts by the Japanese Communist Party, the Welfare Minister repeatedly said in Diet sessions, “Operation of the social security system will not be changed.” The Welfare Committee of the House of Councilors adopted a resolution demanding that the national government instruct local government offices to not discourage eligible applicants from applying for the welfare benefits.
The draft ordinance, which the welfare ministry uploaded on its website in February, stresses that the application should be made in writing in principle, showing its intention to not accept oral applications unless there are special reasons. The draft also requires municipalities to send notice to relatives of applicants to see if they have the financial capability to support the applicant.
If the revised law is to be implemented under the proposed ordinance, it will be almost impossible to apply to the system through verbal request and many eligible applicants will give up applying because of the concern that his/her relatives will be required to support the person.
The Welfare Ministry will end accepting public comments on the draft ordinance on March 28 before finalizing it. In response to questioning by JCP member of the Lower House Takahashi Chizuko, Welfare Minster Tamura Norihisa at a Diet meeting said, “We will discuss the ordinance based on the collected comments.” The Welfare Ministry should listen to the voices of the general public and refrain from making an ordinance which will deter citizens from asking for public assistance.
Past related article:
> Japan bar association opposes adverse amendment to livelihood protection law [December 4, 2013]
