Japan Press Weekly

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2013 December 4 - 10 [WELFARE]

Law to cut social security services enacted

The House of Councilors on December 5 passed and enacted a bill to slash all kinds of social security services with a majority vote of the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties.

The law will enable the national government to weaken many social security programs, including imposing an increase in the share of medical expenses paid by patients aged between 70 and 74, imposition of limits to the eligibility to receive nursing care services and recipients’ burdens hike, and cuts in pension benefits.

Prior to the vote, Japanese Communist Party Upper House member Koike Akira expressed his opposition to the bill, pointing out that it will “destroy the very principles of social security services based on Article 25 of the Constitution,” which guarantees citizens’ right to live.

Koike also stressed that the bill will allow the government to abandon its responsibility to maintain social security services and press citizens to support their livelihoods on their own.