An illegal practice by the Social Insurance Agency came to light last week. Social insurance offices in Osaka, Nagasaki and 24 other prefectures have waived premium payments into the national pension (kokumin nenkin) program by more than 110,000 low-income people without their application.
Such a practice could undermine the kokumin nenkin plan, which is mainly for self-employed people, full-time housewives and unemployed people but also serves as the basis of the kosei nenkin pension plan for company employees and the kyosai nenkin pension plan, which is primarily for public servants.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry should thoroughly investigate the practice -- which is dubious at best and illegal at worst -- and punish those officials and workers involved.