Japan Press Weekly

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2013 October 9 - 15 [WELFARE]

More than 10,000 families file complaints against cuts in welfare benefits

Representatives of groups of welfare recipients and their supporters on October 11 announced at a news conference that more than 10,000 households have filed complaints against the reduction in welfare benefits which started on August 1.

The Abe government is going ahead with a plan to cut welfare benefits over the next three years by 6.5% on average, up to a maximum of 10%.

According to the civil groups, families lodging complaints about the sharp cutbacks in welfare benefits have reached a total of 10,191 nationwide.

Agata Yoshihiro, the chair of the All Japan Federation of Organizations for the Protection of Life and Health (Zenseiren) said, “Welfare recipients who have previously hesitated to raise their voices in opposition are beginning to stand up. We will continue working to increase public opposition to the reduction.”

Utsunomiya Kenji, the former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA), said, “The cut in benefits will be a ‘one-two-three punch’ to households on welfare, with the rise in commodity prices and a consumption tax hike scheduled to take effect in April.”

Prior to the press conference, these leaders submitted a written request to Welfare Minister Tamura Norihisa, seeking a halt to the cutbacks in welfare benefits.