Japan Press Weekly

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2007 July 11 - 17 [JCP]

JCP announces proposal for remaking pension system

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo at a press conference on July 15 announced a JCP proposal to resolve the problems with the pension system which has become a major point at issue in the House of Councilors election.

Pointing out that the root cause of the public indignation over the pension issue lies in the low benefit levels, Shii stressed the importance of solving the problem in which many people either receive only a small amount of pension benefits or none at all.

Shii said, “There is no difference between the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties and opposition Democratic Party in that both sides are trying to evade the responsibility for solving the pension problems without seriously exploring ways to solve them.”

He pointed out that while the adverse revision of the pension system that the ruling parties forcibly implemented three years ago has aggravated the problem, the DPJ-proposed minimum-guaranteed pension program will provide the minimum-guaranteed pension of 66,000 yen a month only 40 years from now.

Shii also warned against the increase in the consumption tax rate under the pretext of securing funds for the pension system. While the DPJ is proposing that the minimum-guaranteed pension program be fully funded with the consumption tax, in the current Upper House election it claims that the consumption tax rate need not be raised, a change from its previous policy three years ago of raising the rate by three percent.

Pointing out that the DPJ’s policies are contradictory, Shii said, “At a time when the ruling parties are trying to increase the consumption tax rate, the DPJ fails to confront this dangerous move.”

Shii explained the JCP’s three-point proposal: (1) as an urgent measure, shorten the minimum required period of pension premium payment from 25 years to 10 years; (2) establish a minimum-guaranteed pension system; and (3) in order to create funds for such a system, do not raise the consumption tax rate but cut wasteful government expenditures and impose on major corporations and the wealthy fair tax burdens. “We are convinced that out proposal will best serve the public interest,” he said. - Akahata, July 16, 2007