ID :
428635
Thu, 12/15/2016 - 08:46
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/428635
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Japan's Parliament Enacts Casino, Pension Reform Bills
Tokyo, Dec. 15 (Jiji Press)--The Diet enacted a so-called integrated resort promotion bill to legalize casinos in Japan in the small hours of Thursday, after another controversial bill, on reforming the country's pension system, cleared the Japanese parliament the previous day.
The casino bill, which was modified by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday, was approved at a plenary meeting of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, early Thursday by a majority vote with support mainly from the LDP and opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai, following its passage at the House of Councillors, the upper chamber, on Wednesday afternoon.
The modified bill includes measures against gambling addiction as well as a provision requiring a review of the legislation within five years of effectuation. The modification was made in response to concerns mainly among opposition parties about the lifting of a casino ban in the nation.
The original casino bill cleared the Lower House last week.
The legislation calls on the government to promote the development of facilities integrating casinos, hotels and convention halls.
In a bid to block its passage, the largest opposition Democratic Party and three other opposition forces--the Japanese Communist Party, the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party--submitted a no-confidence motion against the cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Lower House on Wednesday night.
The motion was voted down mainly by the LDP, its coalition partner Komeito, and Nippon Ishin early Thursday, ahead of the vote on the casino bill at the Lower House plenary meeting.
Due to difficulties having the casino bill enacted by Wednesday, when the current extraordinary Diet session was slated to end, the Lower House decided to extend the session by three days by a majority vote with support from the ruling camp.
With the enactment of the casino bill, the Diet session effectively ended.
Meanwhile, the pension system reform bill was passed into law at an Upper House plenary meeting on Wednesday by a majority vote with support chiefly from the LDP, Komeito and Nippon Ishin.
The bill, which cleared the lower chamber in late November, is designed to introduce new rules to cut pension benefits in line with wage declines even if prices in the country rise. Through the reform, the government aims to maintain pension benefit levels for future generations.
But the DP opposed the change, describing the bill as legislation to effectively reduce pension benefits.
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