Japan Press Weekly

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2019 May 8 - 14 [JCP]

Shii in JCP 6th CC Plenum introduces 3 proposals as pressing tasks

The Japanese Communist Party held the sixth plenum of its Central Committee on May 12 at its head office in Tokyo to confirm a united view before the House of Councilors election. JCP Chair Shii Kazuo introduced three proposals in preparation for the Upper House election, predictably slated for July, based on the results of nationwide local elections.

Shii said, "What is required now is a shift in policies in order to support the household economy, reduce economic disparities, and eliminate poverty so that people can live with hope for a better future."

He said that the implementation of these three proposals "will be the most effective economic measure leading to a sustainable growth in the Japanese economy". He also presented a plan, as "an alternative to the consumption tax increase", to secure financial resources of 7.5 trillion yen needed to implement the three proposals.

The proposals are as follows:

For society where everyone can live decently with 8-hour work day

The national minimum hourly wage will be raised to 1,000 yen without delay followed by an additional increase of 500 yen. Overtime will be limited to up to "15 hours a week and 45 hours a month" by law. Non-regular workers will be given regular employment positions. Monthly wages of workers in the nursing-care and childcare industries will be increased by 50,000 yen.

For social security that will support people's livelihoods

No further increase in national healthcare insurance premiums will take place, and public funds of one trillion yen will be injected to drastically reduce the premium rate. Medical care for all preschool children will be free. The present formula, which automatically adjusts the amount of pension benefits based on a macroeconomic indexation, will be replaced by a new formula in order to not have to reduce the amount of pension benefits. An additional 5,000 yen a month or 60,000 yen a year will be provided to all low-income pensioners. The payment of nursing-care insurance premiums will be reduced for low-income earners. The current policy of cutting back on public assistance will come to an end, and an appropriate level of welfare payments will be restored. Welfare and medical care services for people with disabilities will be free.

For society where people can go to school and raise children without money worries

Tuition fees for universities and vocational schools will be halved without delay and will be eliminated by taking a step-by-step approach. A grant-type scholarship program will be created which will provide more than 30,000 yen a month to 700,000 students. All scholarship repayments will be interest-free. Compulsory education will be completely free. "Free childhood education and free daycare for preschool children" will take effect without depending on tax revenues from the consumption tax increase, and the number of authorized daycare facilities will be increased in order to reduce to zero the number of children waiting for admission to daycare facilities.