Japan Govt Stresses Need to Help Working Generations

Tokyo, Aug. 6 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government on Tuesday
underscored the need to put emphasis on measures to support the generations still working, together with steps to help the elderly, to cope with the falling birthrate and the aging population.

In a white paper on health, labor, welfare adopted the same day,
the government said the dwindling population has created concern over the sustainability of socioeconomic activities.

With regard to marriage and childbirth, the report said that there is a gap between ideal and reality. It also pointed out that many women quit working when they have babies.

To correct the situation, the white paper listed such measures as
society-wide efforts to support work-life balance and elimination of
children on the waiting list for nursery schools.
On the aging population, the government said it is inevitable that
benefit payments and expenses will increase under Japan's social security
system, a reference to possible premium or tax hikes.
It called for discussions about establishing a social security
system that has public trust for many years to come by paying close
attention to income disparity and ensuring fairness among generations.
As for the government's mismanagement of public pension records,
the white paper pledged to make utmost efforts to restore confidence in the
public pension system.