Japan Press Weekly

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2013 February 27 - March 5 [WELFARE]

JCP Tokyo assemblyperson demands more certified childcare centers

Japanese Communist Party member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Shimizu Hideko at an assembly’s plenary session on February 26 demanded that the Tokyo metropolitan government utilize Tokyo-owned land to construct more licensed-childcare centers which fulfill the standards defined by the national government.

She pointed out the JCP’s findings that more than 22,000 Tokyo children will be on waiting lists to enter licensed-daycare centers in April.

She said, “In dealing with the falling birthrate, it is a crucial task for Tokyo to build a lot more facilities and ensure women’s careers.”

While acknowledging the supplementary role played by childcare facilities certified by Tokyo using its own standards, she pointed out that their size and standards are still lower than other licensed-centers which meet the national standards.

Having no intent to respond to many parents who are calling for more licensed-childcare centers to be built, Governor Inose Naoki said, “I will request the welfare ministry to approve Tokyo’s childcare system.”

The JCP assemblyperson told the governor, who believes that Tokyo’s own facilities are the same as other licensed centers meeting the state standards, that the former have less qualified nursery staff than the latter in addition to the problems associated with class size and capacity.

Related past articles:
> Mothers take action to demand increase in child-care centers [February 19, 2013]