September 4, 2020

Akahata on September 3 learned that the Welfare Ministry revised its pamphlet describing the livelihood protection program to encourage people in need to use the program by stating, “The application for livelihood protection is your right.”

This revision came after Diet questioning to Prime Minister Abe by Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Tamura Tomoko.

JCP Tamura at a House of Councilors Audit Committee meeting on June 15 took up the issue that people who fell into financial difficulty due to the corona crisis may be hesitating to apply for welfare benefits because of questions and concerns about the right to livelihood protection.

Tamura pointed out that people have misconceptions and concerns because some political parties and politicians appear to incite welfare recipient bashing. She also referred to municipal government’s tactics to scare people in need away from applying for livelihood protection, the so-called “shoreline operation”. Tamura urged PM Abe to implement measures to encourage people in need to apply for welfare assistance as a given right.

In reply, PM Abe said, “As Tamura pointed out, every person has the right to maintain a cultured living,” and showed his intention to encourage any person requiring public assistance to file their applications without hesitation.

Commenting on the revised Welfare Ministry’s pamphlet supporting people’s right to receive public assistance, Tamura said, “In order to put this idea into practice, it is necessary to provide proper instructions to local government workers in charge of social welfare services as well as to increase the number of these workers. She also expressed her determination to eliminate the use of “shoreline operation” tactics.