The Japan Pensioners' Union held a sit-in in front of the Diet building and made representations to lawmakers in protest against an adverse revision of the pension system on March 23. A Diet deliberation on a bill to revise the system is planned to start next month.
More than 300 union members, wrapped in blankets and holding banners and placards, lined the sidewalk along the Diet building.
Union Chair Mori Nobuyuki said that although the Koizumi Cabinet plans to start Diet discussions on April 1, its attempt to adversely revise the pension system has been opposed by citizens' movements. He called on the protesters to further develop the movement as spring approaches.
A 64-year old woman from Saitama Prefecture said, "As an accountant I have paid pension premiums for 35 years. The government and the media deliberately avoid dealing with the problem of wasteful use of the collected premiums and insist that the increase in the number of elderly citizens is the main cause of the shortfall in the pension fund. I can't tolerate their attitude."
On March 24 and 25, other organizations including the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and the Central Council for Promotion of Social Security, also held sit-ins in front of the Diet building. (end)
