September 16, 2021

The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) on September 15 submitted to the Health and Welfare Ministry a written demand calling for income compensation so that parents, who have no choice but to take days off to take care of their children whose schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, can individually apply for compensation.

The Ministry has recently decided to provide parents with a "subsidy for parental leave due to elementary school closures" on condition of receiving consent from their companies.

Zenroren is, however, demanding that the government allow all parents, irrespective of whether they are regular employees, non-regular employees, or freelancers, to individually apply for grants without their companies' consent.

Zenroren is also demanding that the government expand the nursing-care program so that parents can take up to 14 days off to care for up to 15-year-old children who become infected with COVID-19. In this case, the government should provide subsidies to employers, according to Zenroren.

The New Japan Women's Association (Shinfujin) on September 10 sent a similar demand to Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and Health and Welfare Minister Tamura Norihisa.