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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Foil passage of bills on postal service privatization and nursing care system

With the current Diet session term coming to a close on June 19, more than 220 trade union activists and social services workers on June 15 assembled in the Diet to submit 89,000 signatures in opposition to the passage of controversial bills to privatize postal services and to adversely revise the nursing care insurance system.

The government is attempting to revise the nursing care insurance system in order to restrict the use of home care services for elderly people and increase fees for services for disabled people almost bedridden elderly will be less dependent on home helpers.

The day of action was called by the "Cut Military Expenditure and Improve Welfare and Education" People's Big Movement organizing committee and the Japan Federation of Democratic Medical Institutions.

A man from Asahikawa, Hokkaido, reported that street actions against adverse changes in the nursing care system have been carried out every weekday, and each time more than 100 citizens sign the petition.

On the same day, about 70 people, including members of the Postal Industry Workers' Union (Yusanro) participated in a sit-in protest in front of the Diet Building. Insisting that the postal service privatization bill will just do harm, they petitioned to members of the related Diet committee. -- Akahata, June 16, 2005