National organization of small businesses for democracy hold national conference

Activists of the nation's largest democratic organization of small business owners held a national meeting on April 21 and 22 to discuss ways to defend their business operations.

The National Federation of Merchant and Industrialist's Organizations (Zenshoren) will observe its 50th anniversary in October. The national conference in a spa resort city in Shizuoka Prefecture, the first in six years, was attended by 1,000 people, nearly 60 percent of them being first-time participants.

The prolonged economic recession has dealt a heavy blow to small businesses. Due to financial difficulties, some are obliged to borrow money at an interest rate of 109 percent. There are people who were on the verge of committing suicide due to multiple debts.

Emphasizing the need for activities to overcome the critical situation, Secretary General Uchida Takeshi said, "It is time for Zenshoren to tackle these difficulties."

Since its founding in August 1951, Zenshoren has carried out activities to protect the interests of small businesses through consulting on loans, filing business tax returns, and business operations. It is organizing a national campaign to provide them with consultation on business and living conditions with the help of advisers who have actually gone through the ordeals of the hell of "multiple debts to loan sharks," or success in business revitalization.

Reporting on a business owner who almost killed himself due to his arrears in taxes of 20 million yen, a participant from Saitama said, "The person expressed gratitude to me, saying he was helped by Minsho (a unit organization of Zenshoren)."
For the nation's economic recovery, a measure to cut the consumption tax rate to three percent was the centerpiece of the discussion. (end)