1. Living (Social Security, Work, Childrearing, Education)

1. Fundamental pension reform 窶 Compensation for vanishing pensions

The national pension system is in crisis. To re-establish the system so that it may be maintained into the future, we will move forward on fundamental pension reform based on the following principles.

1. All pension programs should be unified into a single system.
2. The base (minimum guaranteed) portion of pensions should be fully financed through tax revenues. Benefits to high-income individuals should be partly or wholly suspended.
3. Current levels of income-proportionate premium payments and benefits should be maintained.
4. Consumption tax revenues should be wholly committed to finance pensions (base portion).

To prevent the sum of taxes and insurance premiums from becoming too burdensome, we will for one review the current deductions on public pension premium payments. We will abolish the present system that allows the use of pension premiums for purposes other than the payment of pension benefits.

We will abolish and dissolve the Social Insurance Agency, which has wasted pension premiums, an important asset of the people and merge its functions with those of the National Tax Agency to create a new Revenues Agency. The personal-income information and know-how of the National Tax Agency will be used to eliminate non-payment of premiums. Similar and related functions will be rationalized to reduce collection costs. One-stop offices will handle payment and consultation on taxes and insurance premiums, thereby improving convenience.

The 窶忻anishing pensions窶 problem will be handled as follows: (1) Prior to the dissolution of the Social Insurance Agency the old microfilm and paper ledger data in the possession of the Social Insurance Agency and local governments will be collated against the computerized data currently in use to create a full and correct database to be used in the payment of benefits. (2) Records of premium payments received will be posted to all of the approximately 100 million pension program subscribers, and each individual will be asked to confirm the full record of his or her premium payments.

In this way, all lost records of premium payments and underpaid benefits will be thoroughly investigated to re-establish the natural right of the people to 窶徨eceive pension benefits commensurate with premiums paid.窶 The statute of limitations will not be applied to past underpayment of benefits, and beneficiaries will be paid the benefits that are due them in full.

2. Resolution of shortages of pediatricians, obstetricians and other medical professionals

Currently in Japan, there are 200 doctors per 100,000 people. To reach the OECD average of 290 doctors, the nation needs an additional 100,000 doctors. The shortage of pediatricians and obstetricians is particularly serious. Every year, the total number of male doctors in their 20s decreases by 100, while the total number of female doctors in their 20s increases by 350. However, approximately one-half of all female pediatricians and obstetricians stop working due to pregnancy, childbirth and childrearing. In Japan, the number of nurses per hospital bed is equal to between one-third and one-fifth the number in Europe and the United States. Because of the extremely demanding work conditions, nearly 10 percent of all newly employed nurses quit their jobs within one year. In light of these facts, top priority must be given to supporting female doctors and nurses so that they will be able to remain on the job. By establishing workplace nurseries and by supporting training for returning doctors and nurses, we will endeavour to create an environment where female doctors and nurses will be able to keep working and to return to work.

In the field of pediatrics, we will further promote cooperative arrangements whereby pediatricians in private practice will take turns treating after-hour patients at regional pediatric centres. Not only is the work environment for obstetricians very demanding, but they are also exposed to high litigation risks. We will promote no-fault compensation systems and will establish 窶廴edical Safety Commissions窶 to investigate medical accidents.

窶牢pecial function窶 hospitals will be used as centres for the development of advanced and pioneering medical treatments, and will contribute to the training of specialist doctors and researchers. Regional cancer treatment hospitals will cooperate with the National Cancer Center in training of specialists in chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Clinical training hospitals will engage in training for developing higher specialized capabilities and to foster superior clinicians.

The student capacities of medical schools, reduced by 10%, purportedly for cost-cutting purposes, will be returned to their previous levels. The restored additional capacity will be used as quotas for regional, undergraduate and transfer students. The total number of doctors needed for each medical specialty will be determined, and numerical goals will be set for each medical area.

To develop high-quality medical teams, the certification systems of various medical associations and other means will be used to support specialized education for nurses and pharmacists.ﾂ?

3. Stepping up the fight against cancer

Under the leadership of the Democratic Party of Japan, the Basic Act on Countermeasures against Cancer was enacted in the 164th ordinary session of the Diet in 2006. Under the provisions of this law, cancer patients and their families will join in creating the 窶廝asic Plan for Promotion of Countermeasures against Cancer窶 that will be formulated in the 窶廚ouncil for the Promotion of Countermeasures against Cancer.窶 Through the implementation of this plan, the goals of ensuring the 窶彗vailability of the best possible cancer treatment in all places窶 and creating 窶徭ystems for providing cancer patients with the latest information and advisory services窶 will be realized.

4. Investigation of medical accidents and prevention of recurrence

Patients as well as medical personnel and institutions experiencing medical accidents seek the same answers and responses, which are: 窶徘ursuit of the truth,窶 窶彗 sincere response on the part of medical personnel and institutions,窶 and 窶徘revention of recurrence.窶 For the realization of these objectives, the Democratic Party of Japan makes the following three proposals, and will formulate legislation to ensure that these proposals will function organically.

1. 窶廴edical mediators窶 should be trained and posted at all medical facilities exceeding a certain size. The function of such medical mediators will be to present full knowledge and information to patients without delay in the case of medical accidents, to support dialogue between patients and medical institutions, and to provide family members with appropriate psychological care.
2. Apart from litigation, an 窶徙ut-of-court dispute settlement agency窶 will be established to flexibly handle the needs of victims of medical accidents. An effective system will be developed and established in major cities and localities throughout Japan to perform the following comprehensive functions: to provide advisory and consulting services, and to undertake procedures for dispute settlement by consensus and dispute settlement by arbitration.
3. A 窶廴edical Safety Commission窶 with the following functions will be established as a national agency: to receive complaints concerning accidents that have occurred under the jurisdiction of medical institutions, to determine the causes of medical accidents through independent investigation and medical examination (including the performance of autopsies and other tests and assurance of the integrity of the results), and to propose measures for the prevention of the recurrence of accidents.

5. Upgrading the framework for long-term care services

The Long-Term Care Insurance system is based on the principles of cooperation and solidarity. It is necessary to maintain a system that can provide quality services to persons requiring long-term care without unduly burdening family members and other caregivers. Following the revision of the Long-Term Care Insurance Law in 2005, certain services previously available, particularly in the area of nursing prevention, have become unavailable. The problem does not end with the stoppage of home-help services and of equipment provision. Cuts in compensation for long-term care services have affected the management of related enterprises and have resulted in deteriorating working conditions for long-term caregivers. Due to restructuring of recuperation wards, patients with such medical needs as gastric feeding and aspiration are required to be discharged early from hospital.

The Democratic Party of Japan will appropriately review compensation for long-term care services and will prevent the early discharge of patients from recuperation wards. We will also speed up the development of nursing facilities to accept patients released from recuperation wards.

Even under conditions of fiscal difficulty, the Democratic Party of Japan will prioritize the development of the long-term care infrastructure to ensure the continued availability of necessary services. To promote at-home care, in particular, the Democratic Party of Japan will implement measures to increase the number of home-helpers and care managers, raise their levels of specialization and improve work conditions, so as to ensure that people requiring care will receive the services they need. We will also build new group homes.

6. Fundamental reform of self-support systems for persons with disabilities

The Law Concerning Self-Support Systems for Persons with Disabilities went into effect in April 2006. The law has sharply increased the financial burden on persons with disabilities through the introduction of a 10 percent flat rate co-payment for services received and self-payment for meals and living. As a result, some disabled persons have been unable to cope with the suddenly increased financial burden and have had to reduce or completely stop their use of services. Having been discharged from facilities and with no access to services, disabled persons living at home are a far cry from leading a self-supporting life, and the present law would be more fairly termed the 窶廰aw for the Obstruction of Self-Supported Living for Persons with Disabilities.窶?/p>

The Democratic Party of Japan will suspend the 10 percent flat rate co-payment for care and training services received. As in the case of support payments, the Democratic Party of Japan will reinstate the ability-to-pay principle and will maintain the standards of welfare services for children and adults with disabilities. To achieve these objectives, we submitted the 窶廝ill for Emergency Revisions to the Law Concerning Self-Supporting Systems for Persons with Disabilities窶 in January 2007. Many of the same provisions are also contained in the 窶廝ill for Emergency Measures for Rectification of Disparities窶 that we submitted in March 2007.

Regarding policies for persons with mental disabilities, the Democratic Party of Japan aims to ensure the smooth flow of patients 窶彷rom hospitals to the community窶 by raising the levels of both medical and comprehensive welfare services. In particular, we will aim to facilitate the normalization of 72,000 patients undergoing 窶徭ocial hospitalization窶 by improving related services and enhancing the necessary measures.

Under the present policies and laws concerning people with disabilities, persons with physical, mental and emotional disabilities are each placed under a specific category. Persons with disabilities or rare illnesses that do not come under any of these categories slip through the cracks of the system. The Democratic Party of Japan will fundamentally review these systems and practices and will enact a comprehensive 窶廰aw Concerning the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities.窶 Parallel to this, we will increase the government budget for the welfare of persons with disabilities.

7. Support for atomic bomb victims

The Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry窶冱 current 窶廨uidelines for the Certification of Atomic Bomb Disease窶 should be immediately abolished and replaced by new certification standards that take into account radiation exposure levels. Based on the understanding that 窶彗tomic bomb victims are victims wherever they live,窶 we have sought to establish the full application of the provisions of the Atomic Bomb Victims Support Law to those living abroad. We have already submitted revisions to this law and will endeavour to enact them. As second generation victims become older, ill effects on their health are feared. The Democratic Party of Japan is committed to investigating the conditions and will study various measures that may be implemented. We will also implement a comprehensive package of health, medical and welfare measures designed to meet the needs of atomic bomb victims.

8. Tax system revision to rectify disparitiesﾂ?

To rectify the growing disparities in Japanese society, we will make necessary revisions in income tax deductions and introduce a system combining benefits and tax deductions. Given the regressive nature of consumption tax, relief measures will be taken through 窶徼ax returns.窶 The funds made available through revisions made in deductions for dependents, deductions for spouse, and special deductions for spouse will be used to finance social security expenditures including childrearing support. While appropriate tax rates will be applied to asset-based incomes, some consideration will be given to long-term holding of securities to encourage the flow of funds from 窶徭avings to investment,窶 and efforts will be made to ensure sound market development.

9. Reforming 窶忤ay of work窶 through equal treatment and work-life balance

Currently, there are more than 12 million part-time employees in Japan. These workers have come to play a key and permanent role in Japan窶冱 workforce. Although many part-timers work the same hours and perform the same functions as full-time employees, their pay and treatment do not accord with their contributions and this is justified by citing the difference in form of employment. In the past, the Democratic Party of Japan has submitted such legislation as the 窶廝ill for Equal Treatment of Part-Time Workers窶 and the 窶廝ill Concerning Labour Contracts.窶 The intent of these bills has been to ban discriminatory treatment of short-term employees and termed employees in terms of their wages and work conditions. We will continue to pursue rational principles that disallow markedly unfavourable wages and work conditions based on 窶忤ay of work.窶?/p>

There is a clear link between working hours and health of workers. To prevent deterioration of mental health, karoshi (death from overwork) and karojisatsu (suicide from overwork), it is important to rigorously manage health and safety requirements, and to control working hours to maintain workers窶 health. The Democratic Party of Japan will raise overtime pay allowances to 50 percent from the current level of 25 percent.

The Democratic Party of Japan aims to create a society in which a proper work-life balance is maintained for all workers regardless of gender. This is a society in which work and family life can co-exist, where good health is maintained and all workers can participate in community and self-developing activities as guided by their individual needs and interests. In short, this is a society in which both men and women are able to harmonize work and personal life, and to stay healthy and remain engaged in fulfilling work. We will endeavour to enact the 窶廝ill for Supporting the Compatibility of Work and Family Life窶 (submitted to the Diet in 2004), and the 窶廝ill for Gender Equality in Employment窶 (submitted to the Diet in 2006).

The Democratic Party of Japan advocates the establishment of a 窶彝e-employment Scholarship Fund窶 to support the re-entry into the workforce of those who have left their jobs for childrearing and long-term care of family members. We will promote diversity in working styles and will endeavour to fully realize the nation窶冱 potentialities through a series of measures that will include the assignment of quotas in government procurement to companies managed by women, promotion of entrepreneurship by NPOs and other organizations, and promoting an increase in the number of female corporate managers.

10. Significant increase in minimum wages

Under the current system, minimum wages are increased by only one to five yen per year. In some regions, the minimum wage level is so low that persons working a full load still cannot rise above the livelihood assistance level. Low minimum wages are one of the causes of the phenomenon of the working poor. The Democratic Party of Japan will significantly raise minimum wage levels so that all diligent workers will be able to earn a living. For this purpose, we have already submitted the 窶廝ill to Revise the Minimum Wages Law窶 to the Diet. The main features of the bill are: (1) the basic principle for minimum wages is 窶彳nough to maintain the living expenses of the worker and his/her family; (2) the introduction of a 窶從ational minimum wage窶 applicable to all workers (800 yen per hour); (3) the introduction of 窶徨egional minimum wages窶 that exceed the national minimum wage; and, (4) the implementation of fiscal and financial measures to facilitate adoption of the new minimum wages by small- and medium-sized enterprises. The bill provides for a gradual increase in minimum wage levels over a period of three years, culminating with a national average minimum wage of 1,000 yen per hour.

11. Employment and career support for younger generations

During the long period of economic stagnation that followed the collapse of Japan窶冱 bubble economy, young people faced difficult employment conditions. Many new graduates were unable to find work, or could not find regular employment. Even now that the economy is improving, people who joined the workforce during the severely depressed 窶彳mployment ice age窶 and who are now in their 30s or younger cannot make an easy transition to regular employment. Due to limited opportunities for job training, the income gap between these people and those with regular employment is growing. The Democratic Party of Japan has submitted a 窶廝ill for Special Measures for Stabilizing the Employment of Young People窶? The bill contains the following provisions for promoting stable employment for young people seeking to be independent: (1) the provision of employment support by 窶彳mployment counsellors for young people窶 posted at public employment bureaus; (2) career guidance through the formulation of 窶彿ndividual employment support plans;窶 and, (3) the preparation of work training programs in private companies and the payment of work support allowances (1,000 yen day and 30,000 yen per month) as needed. Public employment bureaus will be outfitted with an area for young people to gather and to receive peer counselling and other services. Work experience programs will be established for 8th grade students throughout Japan covering a period of no less than five days.

12. 窶廚hild allowance窶 of 26,000 yen per month, and childbirth subvention payments

As part of an overall program for childrearing support, childrearing allowances will be increased. This will be financed through revisions made in tax deductions for dependents and spouse and special deductions for spouse, and through implementation of administrative and fiscal reforms. From the standpoint that the basic expenses for childrearing (clothing, education and other expenses) should be guaranteed, a per capita child allowance of 26,000 yen per month will be paid until graduation from junior high school.

In addition to the current payment of insurance lump-sum benefits at childbirth (approximately 350,000 yen), a subsidy of 200,000 yen per child will be paid at birth, to be financed by the national treasury. The introduction of this subsidy will mean that almost all expenses related to childbirth will be covered.

13. Improving the educational capacities of schools

All schools established by local governments will be governed by a 窶彜chool Board窶 whose membership will be drawn from among parents and guardians, community residents, school officials and experts in education. By managing schools through the cooperation of parents and local communities, relations of trust with schools can be strengthened. This will allow speedy responses to such problems as bullying and dropping out. This will facilitate the development of organic ties and cooperative relations with schools, and will also contribute to the revitalization and strengthening of local communities. In addition, the following measures will be taken to improve the quality and quantity of teachers.

1. To allow teachers to fulfil their high mission and to meet their professional obligations, a sufficient number of teachers will be hired, and improvements will be made in educating and training teachers. To be licensed, teachers will undergo six years of education (acquisition of master窶冱 degree).
2. The central government will be responsible for certification of teachers, and for guaranteeing respect for the status of teachers and their proper treatment.
3. To free teachers from troublesome tasks and to create an environment in which teachers can concentrate on education, the system of educational administration will be simplified and greater respect will be paid to the initiatives undertaken on the frontlines of education.

14. Free high-school and higher education

Anyone wishing to go to high school will be admitted, and high school education will be made free. To enable all people to receive higher education according to their desire and capability to do so regardless of the environment in which they are born, we will progressively introduce free higher education and scholarship programs and related systems will be dramatically expanded, based on the principles enunciated in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

15. Establishment of scholarship system covering all applicants, including living expenses

A scholarship system will be established allowing all applying students, graduate or undergraduate, to borrow the funds needed to cover their educational and minimum living expenses (estimated maximum loan of 3 million yen per year). This will enable young people to receive university education with zero parental support, and will also permit people with work experience to return to university to further their education. By freeing parents and guardians in their 40s and 50s from the heavy burden of educational cost, this system will dramatically increase the disposable income of such households and contribute to growth in personal spending and economic recovery.ﾂ?ﾂ?