The House of Representatives passed a bill Friday to increase the government's contribution to the national pension scheme from one-third to one-half in fiscal 2009.
The Lower House sent the bill immediately to the House of Councilors for deliberation.
The Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc voted for the bill after it was approved earlier in the day by the Health, Labor and Welfare Committee, which is also backed by members of the ruling camp.