National Jul 1, 2020
The welfare ministry believes temporary closure of businesses nationwide due to COVID-19 may have contributed to the increase and predict a further rise.
National Jun 14, 2020
388,000 applications made under Japan's special loan program amid epidemic
Decisions have been made to provide a total of ¥74.5 billion in about 343,000 cases, or nearly 90 percent of all applications, according to the officials.
National / Social Issues May 17, 2020
Japan's drop in suicides may not hold as fallout from pandemic grows
by Tomohiro Osaki
The fallout from COVID-19 is still taking a toll on jobs and increasing the risk of domestic violence and child abuse, officials and experts say.
National Apr 16, 2020
Diet starts debate on retirement age hike for government workers
The Diet on Thursday started debating bills to raise the retirement age of national civil servants at a plenary meeting of the House of Representatives. According to the legislation, the retirement age, which now stands at 60, would be raised by one every two years ...
Business | ANALYSIS Apr 13, 2020
Coronavirus pandemic to test China's unemployment safety net
The coronavirus pandemic is expected to cause millions more people in China to lose their jobs, leaving many of them stranded without a safety net, unable to access state unemployment benefits, economists say. The rapid spread of the disease around the world has dashed hopes ...
National Apr 5, 2020
Japanese government mulls ¥10,000 hike in monthly child allowance to ease coronavirus impact
The government is in the final stages of talks on increasing Japan's monthly child allowance by ¥10,000 per head to support families hit by the coronavirus pandemic, it was learned Sunday. The measure will be included in the emergency economic support package expected to be ...
World / Politics Apr 2, 2020
Finland is told its welfare state can’t cope with virus fallout
One of the world’s best-funded welfare states is starting to crack as the fallout of the coronavirus triggers mass unemployment. Finland’s system of jobless benefits can’t cope with the sudden surge in demand, the country’s biggest unemployment fund, YTK, said. There are more than 300,000 Finns ...
Business Mar 3, 2020
The government decided Tuesday to reform the pension system by expanding the range of part-time workers who can join the kōsei nenkin public pension program for corporate employees. The measure is aimed at increasing the number of people, especially women and elderly workers who tend ...
Business Feb 28, 2020
Japan's record fiscal 2020 budget clears Lower House
by Satoshi Sugiyama
The ¥102.66 trillion fiscal 2020 budget denies extra funding for COVID-19 but addresses soaring welfare costs and promotes free education and cashless purchases to offset last year’s tax hike.
National / Politics Jan 20, 2020
In policy speech, Abe vows to establish 'new era of Japanese diplomacy'
by Satoshi Sugiyama
The prime minister Monday focused his speech on foreign policy, delivering a notable change in phrasing regarding South Korea.
National Jan 8, 2020
Japan to urge firms to employ workers until age 70 from next year
The labor ministry plans to urge companies from April 2021 to ensure jobs are available for workers until the age of 70, it was learned Wednesday. The ministry will also require large companies with over 300 workers to publish the number of mid-career hires on ...
World Jan 5, 2020
Thousands of people demonstrated on Saturday against French President Emmanuel Macron's proposed pension reforms that have sparked a monthlong transport strike. Some protesters donned the yellow vests that over the past year have become symbolic of opposition to Macron's attempts at reforms that he says ...