Japan Press Weekly

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2013 December 4 - 10 [WELFARE]

Japan bar association opposes adverse amendment to livelihood protection law

Legal experts raise voices against a government plan to amend the Livelihood Protection Law. Bito Hiroki, the vice head of a task force on poverty with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA), in an Akahata interview commented on this issue. The excerpt of his comment is as follows:

The JFBA believes that poverty is a very important matter concerning the people’s right to live guaranteed by Article 25 of the Constitution.

All attorneys in Japan are required by law to join the JFBA. Some lawyers provide legal service to big corporations and others work for administrative authorities. However, the JFBA is making an all-out effort as a single body to tackle poverty issues. The JFBA president serves as a head of the task force and all member association heads take part.

In 2008, the JFBA published an amendment draft to the Livelihood Protection Law. It urges the government to change the name of the law to a “Guarantee of Livelihood Law” in order to make it clear that every Japanese has the constitutional right to live; install measures to prevent local governments from discouraging citizens from applying for the public support program; reflect people’s voices in procedures to decide the livelihood protection standards; and improve other types of public support to low-income people.

The government-sponsored amendment bill, which is currently under Diet deliberation, totally goes against the JFBA draft.

More than 1,000 experts on poverty issues and the livelihood protection system expressed opposition to the bill. Dietmembers should recognize the significance of this fact.