Government deregulation panel calls for white-collar exemption system

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Government deregulation panel calls for white-collar exemption system

The government Council for the Promotion of Regulatory Reform on December 25 submitted to the prime minister its final report that calls for deregulations in eleven fields, including labor and education, in order to meet business circles' demands.

The report proposed that the government submit to the next Diet session a bill to establish a white-collar exemption system that will remove restrictions on working hours for workers with a set annual income, the amount of which is to be decided later.

The report also called for the promotion of private-sector entry into childcare services.

In the field of education, it proposed introducing a system in which schools will be ranked according to their academic level, students will choose a school to attend, and public funds will be distributed to each school based on the number of students (education vouchers).

It also calls for an outsourcing of social workers who work in the area of livelihood protection assistance.

Facing criticism that deregulations have caused a widening social gap, the Council for the Promotion of Regulatory Reform in its interim report published in July stated, "How to proceed with regulatory reform is called into question."

Due to increasing contradictions with the public, Olix Chair Miyauchi Yoshihiko had no choice but to resign as the council chair in the middle of his term.

Despite this, the final report pushed for deregulations in many fields, which will only accelerate the growth of social disparities.
- Akahata, December 26, 2006