|
On the morning of October 3, Prime Minister Noda attended the 63rd Central Committee Meeting hosted by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo), pledging to "advance politics for citizens and workers."
PM Noda began his speech reporting that he has been re-elected as president of the DPJ and continued, "It is true that the DPJ Government, under three successive prime ministers, has progressed in areas the previous government was incapable of advancing; we have realized policies and changed the way taxes are used." "What the DPJ lacks is the ability to achieve breakthroughs as a team" said PM Noda, adding that "To meet the expectations of citizens while reflecting on the lessons learned from mistakes made in the three year period following the change of Government, I will strengthen Party and Cabinet teamwork and go back to the basics to advance politics for citizens and workers."
PM Noda defined the largest challenges that the DPJ must soon tackle as "the development of a social security system that enables the revival of the large middle class and political structure that will create, for people, places where they belong and have a role to play." PM Noda then listed the key policies to revive the large middle class: (1) A policy to raise those who have fallen or are about to fall into poverty back into the middle class; (2) A policy to rejuvenate the economy and create and maintain quality employment opportunities; and (3) A policy to vitalize the lives of children and workers and to rejuvenate regional districts. PM Noda emphasized that he will promote the comprehensive reform of the social security and taxation systems, and take measures to combat deflation and stimulate economic recovery, which would include the swift establishment of the National Council for Social Security System Reform, and the development of counter-regression measures and measures to ensure that increased consumption tax expenses are passed on fairly.
Commenting on the special measures for the issuance of government bonds, a bill that was not passed during the previous Diet session, PM Noda said, "I would like the opposition parties to also share our sense of urgency and I will continue to call for their cooperation so that the proposed measures can be passed during the next Diet session." PM Noda also said he will make efforts to achieve the early passage of the four bills relating to reform of the civil servants system and the bill related to the reform of the election system, and submit the Reform of the Local Civil Servant System bill during the next Diet session. PM Noda asked for continued understanding and support as he closed his speech.
Japanese Trade Union Confederation President Nobuaki Koga commented, "It has been three years since the change of government. I have to admit that due to high expectations, there has been a lot of disappointment," however, he also went on to say that "It is still the DPJ that places priority on us workers and consumers, and it is the DPJ with which we are able to share policies." Koga also stated that there are a number of political measures, including labor-related legislation, that have made steady progress under the DPJ, something that was difficult during the time of the LDP-New Komeito coalition government. "As the ruling party, it is necessary to determine what the DPJ has achieved and that which has been lacking in the past three years and then diligently work to refine the policies," said Koga.
|
.jpg)
