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Japan Press Weekly

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

80% of mother-children households without welfare assistance earn less income than livelihood protection benefits

A welfare ministry’s survey shows that 80% of mother-children households without welfare assistance earn less than the minimum amount set under the livelihood protection standards.

The survey is conducted to compare living conditions of mother-children households between those who receive welfare assistance and those who do not.

Among mother-children families that do not receive welfare assistance, 81.4% mothers are employed, but the average of their annual income is around 2.7 million yen which is below the livelihood protection benefits.

Although 42.2% mothers of single-parent families receiving welfare benefits are employed, the rate of those who work full-time is only 1%. 71.8% mothers without jobs answered, “I want to work.” The primary reason for their difficulty in getting a job is health problems.

This survey reveals that taking measures to provide further support to single-parent households is required.

- Akahata, December 28, 2009