Cabinet ministers and business leaders have begun calling for a consumption tax hike to cover rising social security costs stemming from the aging population.
Although many economists agree the 5 percent tax must be raised at some point to provide revenues, the timing of any increase and the new level of the tax are issues that are still to be debated, a pressing matter amid an economy mired in a deep slump.
The Tax Commission, an advisory panel to the prime minister, resumed discussions on the issue at a general assembly Friday.