Japan Press Weekly

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2015 January 7 - 13 [WELFARE]

People on welfare protest planned slashes in welfare benefits

A group of welfare recipients and their supporters on January 8 held a press conference in the welfare ministry building, issuing a statement in protest against the government plan to further reduce welfare benefits.

In August 2013, the Abe government began cutting livelihood assistance benefits in stages, which include expenses for food, heating, lighting, and water. On top of that, the government is planning to cut housing allowances and winter season supplements from fiscal 2015 starting in April.

Lawyer Bito Hiroki, representing the civic group, stressed that it is “extremely unfair and unjust” that the administration continues cutting back on the benefits while drawing up a largest-ever fiscal budget.

Tsunekazu Hideaki, a former caseworker in Tokyo, noted that even now people on welfare are forced to live in substandard apartments. “The housing assistance issue should be discussed from a viewpoint of how to secure the minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living for families on welfare,” he said.

They also published another statement demanding that Osaka City Mayor Hashimoto Toru cancel his model project to provide a portion of welfare benefits via prepaid cards issued by a credit card company. The statement denounces the project for violating the cash-benefit principle which is stipulated in the Livelihood Protection Law as well as encroaching on welfare recipients’ right to privacy and self-determination.

Past related article:
> Osaka City will closely monitor the needy [December 28 & 30, 2014]