Japan Press Weekly

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2013 March 6 - 12 [WELFARE]

Another action for more child-care centers in Tokyo

On March 7, 14 parents in Tokyo’s Ota Ward filed with the ward office an administrative complaint about the ward’s rejection of their applications for licensed daycare nurseries that meet national standards.

This was the third action of its kind following the actions in Suginami and Adachi wards.

In Ota Ward, 3,546 children applied for admission to licenced daycare centers and 1,305 of them were not admitted.

A 41-year-old mother said, “My child was not admitted to a daycare center even though both my husband and I have full-time jobs. Even certified daycare centers with Tokyo’s own standards turned down my application. I am desperate.”

A 36-year-old woman participating in the action with her 1-year-old daughter said because of her health problems, she applied to only an authorized daycare center which is close to her house. However, the health issue was not considered in deciding whether or not to allow her daughter to enter the center and her application was rejected.

“I managed to get my daughter into a Tokyo-style certified daycare center. I feel so much anxiety that on my way to the center I might have a fit,” said the mother.

Japanese Communist Party Ota Ward Assembly member Wada Masako stated, “What residents need are authorized daycare centers that meet national standards, including the number of staff and amount of floor space. The ward should drastically increase the number of these facilities.”