4 days ago
Editorial: Japan must not delay pension reforms as Diet passes system revision bill
Measures to stabilize people's post-retirement livelihoods must be steadily implemented in Japan.
A bill to revise Japan's public pension system has passed the House of Representatives and is now expected to become law. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito coalition had earlier reached an agreement with the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) to add provisions in supplementary clauses to boost basic pension levels.
Initially, the government considered incorporating the benefit enhancement plan directly into the bill, but backed down due to resistance from within the LDP. Criticism arose over plans to utilize reserve money from the Employees' Pension Insurance system, with opponents labeling it "a misuse of funds." Some LDP figures also expressed concern that implementing the measure would temporarily reduce pension benefit levels and negatively impact the party's hopes in the summer House of Councillors election.
If left unchanged, the current pension system will see basic pension payments decrease by approximately 30% in about 30 years, raising concerns that the number of people expected to face insufficient pension benefits will increase, particularly among the so-called "employment ice age generation," who struggled to find stable employment throughout the post-bubble economy malaise.
Given such projected outcomes, the CDP demanded that basic pension-boosting measures be reinstated, a request the LDP eventually agreed to. We can appreciate that the political parties succeeded in reaching consensus as the end of the current Diet session approaches.
Still, implementation of these measures comes with certain conditions. The pension-boosting policies would be introduced only if the outlook for pension finances, set to be released in 2029, projects a decrease in basic benefits.
Postponing pension reforms and relying too heavily on hopes of economic growth improving pension finances risks future repercussions. Political parties must work rigorously to ensure these pension-enhancement steps are definitively realized.
The establishment of solid resources has also been deferred. Currently, half of basic pension benefits are funded through taxes. Over 2 trillion yen (about $13.86 billion) in additional public expenses will be required in the future, yet detailed discussions were avoided ahead of the July upper house election.
Unless Japan experiences a substantial expansion in tax revenue at current rates, tax increases inevitably await. Securing public acceptance will take considerable time. Failing to begin serious deliberations promptly cannot be considered a responsible attitude.
This revision of the pension system includes additional measures, such as improving coverage for part-time workers and reviewing rules that currently reduce Employees' Pension Insurance benefits for elderly people who remain employed.
Despite this revision impacting the daily lives of the public significantly, considerable delays in submitting the bill resulted in insufficient time for Diet discussions. Responsibility clearly rests with the governing parties.
Although the three-party talks involving the LDP, Komeito and CDP succeeded in shaping amendments, the Diet ought to formally create platforms enabling participation from all parties. Both ruling and opposition parties must avoid exploiting pension issues for political purposes, but focus instead on ensuring the pension system's viability and sustainability.
