Japan Press Weekly

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2010 December 22 - 2011 January 4 [POLITICS]

Komei appeals to DPJ for its ‘new welfare’ vision

Without any self-criticism of its failed social service policies under the Liberal Democratic-Komei coalition government, the Komei Party on December 18 released an interim report on its vision of a “new welfare society”, calling for improvement of social services.

This proposal, to be funded by the consumption tax, has been highly appreciated by the Kan Naoto government as “a noteworthy proposal” and “having many points in common with the DPJ position.”

The report, which will be the basis of Komei’s election campaign in the next general election, was compiled mainly by Komei vice-representative Sakaguchi Chikara, who served as Health, Labor and Welfare Minister under the LDP-Komei government. It clearly reveals Komei’s intent to curry favor with the ruling party.

Though the Komei Party claims “employment is the starting point of welfare,” it has never reflected on its role in increasing disposable temporary jobs by easing labor regulations when it was a government party allied with the LDP. It even opposes temporary workers being offered full-time positions on the allegation that their change into full-time workers will nullify the use of temporary workers as adjustment valves in a company’s workforce.

The undemocratic character of the Komei proposal is clear from its call that the consumption tax, a highly regressive tax with a relatively heavier burden on people with low incomes, should be an exclusive fund for social services.

What is worse, the DPJ government has revealed itself as being an offshoot of the LDP in appreciating the Komei proposal as sharing common points with the DPJ.