Japan Press Weekly

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2009 May 27 - June 2 [ECONOMY]

JCP lawmakers request that government help local businesses recover from H1N1 flu-related losses

Japanese Communist Party’s members of the Diet, including House of Representatives member Kokuta Keiji, on May 28 petitioned Prime Minister Aso Taro to provide support for local businesses and social services that have been affected by the spread of H1N1 influenza infections in the Kansai region of Japan that includes the major cities of Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto.

Receiving the petition, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura Takeo said, “The government will respond to the needs after studying the actual conditions and inquiring about local governments’ situations carefully.”

In the petition, the JCP pointed out that H1N1 flu infections have had a serious effect on tourist and other business activities, and small- and medium-sized enterprises’ activities in the Kansai region.

The JCP called for a study on how small- and medium-sized businesses are being adversely affected by H1N1 flu infections, the need for an implementation of special measures in support of affected industries and shopping districts, measures to avoid harmful rumors about H1N1 flu infections, and to compensate for damage and provide financial support for losses caused by the downturn in business activities.