September 29, 2023

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on September 28 held a press conference at the JCP head office and announced the JCP "Economic Recovery Plan" to overcome the 30-year-long economic stagnation.

Shii started the conference by saying, "In addition to the 'Lost 30 Years' under the Liberal Democratic Party-led government, the ongoing price surge is dealing a harsh blow to people's everyday lives and livelihoods."

Pointing out that the present government is under the thumb of business circles which basically focus on immediate profits, Shii said, "In order to correct such a political distortion, the JCP Economic Recovery Plan proposes three reforms."

According to Shii, the first reform is to make improvements in workers' wages and working conditions and to promote working styles which will place importance on respect and dignity. The second reform is to reduce the consumption tax rate, upgrade social welfare programs, and lessen the financial burdens associated with educational costs in order to rectify economic disparities and support people's livelihoods. The third reform is to tackle the climate crisis, raise the self-sufficiency rate in food and energy supply, and work for sustainable economic policies.

Shii said that the JCP is currently drafting a bill on fair treatment for non-regular workers. He continued to say that the bill will establish rules in line with international standards regarding non-regular workers; oblige corporations to make public their wage differences between regular workers and non-regular workers; and set rules to protect the labor rights of gig workers, freelancers, and part-time workers.

Shii added that the JCP Economic Recovery Plan needs a total of 40 trillion yen to be allocated in the budgets: 22 trillion yen for permanent measures and 18 trillion yen for emergency measures. He explained, "A democratic shift in fiscal policy, a tax system based on the principle of people's ability to pay, and the appropriate utilization of government bonds will be sufficient to secure the necessary financial resources."