Labor think tank proposes making funding for job creation more effective

As the unemployment rate remains at an all time high and an increasing number of full-time workers are constantly in fear of losing jobs and becoming homeless, a labor think tank says strengthening assistance to the unemployed to maintain their living conditions and find a job is an urgent task.

The Japan Research Institute of Labor Movement (Rodo-soken) on February 4 called on the government to utilize the government subsidies more effectively to help the unemployed find jobs.

The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren)-affiliated labor institute said that the government subsidies to increase jobs, which started in 1999, have been effective in providing jobs to 300,000 people in the last three years .

The Institute said, "It is significant that a broad popular movement has pushed the government into introducing such a subsidy system."

As part of the efforts to make the government subsidies better, the Institute proposes that self-employed people who are out of jobs also be covered by the subsidy program because they do not have unemployment insurance, and that administrative services need to be improved. (end)