Latest news with #andWelfare
4 days ago
- Politics
Births in Japan Fall Below 700,000 for the First Time in 2024
The number of births in Japan fell below 700,000 for the first time in 2024. Demographic statistics published by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare show that there were 686,061 births, down 41,227 year on year, marking a record low for the ninth year running. The total fertility rate, indicating the number of children a woman has in her lifetime, fell by 0.05 points to a new low of 1.15. The fertility rate tended to be lower in eastern prefectures than in the west, with Tokyo dipping below 1 for the second year, at 0.96, followed by Miyagi at 1.00 and Hokkaidō at 1.01. The highest fertility rates were seen in the prefectures of Okinawa (1.54) and Fukui (1.46), ahead of Tottori, Shimane, and Miyazaki, all at 1.43. While the number of marriages increased by 10,322 to 485,063, it is still very low. Cultural factors including the general aversion to having children outside of marriage in Japan and trends toward marrying late or not at all present major challenges to efforts to lift the number of births. Japan's Demographics 2024 estimate 2023 Births 686,061 727,288 Total fertility rate 1.15 1.20 Deaths 1,605,298 1,576,016 Natural population change –919,237 –840,728 Marriages 485,063 474,741 Divorces 185,895 183,814 Created by based on demographic statistics from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. The number of deaths in 2024 increased by 29,282 to reach a postwar high of 1,605,298. Since the natural decrease in population, which is the difference between the number of births and deaths, surpassed 600,000 for the first time in 2021, it has risen sharply to a record high 919,237 in 2024. During the first baby boom (1947–49) immediately after the end of World War II, the number of annual births in Japan reached 2.5 million, and births per year exceeded 2 million during the second baby boom (1971–74). Since then, the number has consistently declined, without a spike in births when the second baby-boom generation reached the age to have their own children. The number of births dropped below the number of deaths for the first time in 2007. Data Sources (Translated from Japanese. Banner photo © Pixta.)
5 days ago
- Business
Government Survey Finds Japanese Homeless Population Continues to Decrease
A January 2025 survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare found that there were 2,591 homeless people in Japan, down 229 or 8.1% year on year. The survey has been conducted according to law since 2003. In the January survey, employees of local authorities observed homeless people staying overnight in areas including parks and beside rivers. There were 2,346 men, 163 women, and 82 people whose gender could not be determined. The number of homeless people observed has fallen by around a third since the total of 3,824 in 2021. However, it does not include people without fixed residences who stay in internet cafés and similar locations. By prefecture, Osaka had the most homeless people at 763. This was followed by Tokyo with 565 and Kanagawa with 366. There were no homeless people found in nine prefectures, including Aomori, Niigata, and Nagasaki. The most common locations where homeless people stayed were urban parks (25.5%), roadsides (24.1%), riversides (21.6%), and station buildings (5.8%), with 22.9% in other locations. The number of people sleeping by rivers has decreased in recent years. (Translated from Japanese. Banner photo © Pixta.)
News18
12-05-2025
- Health
- News18
International Nurses Day Wishes 2025: History, Significance And Quotes
Last Updated: International Nurses Day honours the vital role of nurses. The 2025 theme, 'Our Nurses. Our Future,' highlights their impact on global health and the future of care. International Nurses Day 2025: Nurses across the globe play a vital role in ensuring the well-being of individuals. Their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in caring for the sick and those in need of medical attention make a profound impact every day. To honour their invaluable contributions to healthcare and society, International Nurses Day is celebrated each year on May 12. Wishing a Happy Nurses Day to the modern-day Florence Nightingale! Happy International Nurses Day 2025! I extend my heartfelt greetings to all nurses. Dear nurse, your kind smile is enough to cure all the diseases of the world. So always put a big smile on your face! Wishing you a happy International Nurse Day 2025! Happy International Nurses Day 2025! Thank you to every nurse for always blessing us with your love and care. A nurse gives comfort, care, and utmost attention to others when they are in the most sensitive condition. You make the most wonderful people on Earth. Wishing you a very happy International Nurses Day 2025! International Nurses Day 2025: Quotes Here are some of the popular quotes to share on International Nurses Day 2025. International Nurses Day 2025: History The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has been commemorating International Nurses Day since 1965. The idea of honouring nurses dates back to 1953, when Dorothy Sutherland, an official from the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, proposed that President Dwight D. Eisenhower declare a 'Nurses' Day" to recognise their contributions. Although the proposal was not approved, it reflected the growing recognition of nurses' dedication and hard work. It wasn't until January 1974 that International Nurses Day was officially established. The date, May 12, was chosen to coincide with the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, and is now observed globally in her honour. International Nurses Day 2025: Significance This day serves as a powerful reminder of the invaluable role nurses play in our lives. According to the official website, this year's theme is 'Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies," emphasising the importance of prioritising the well-being of nurses themselves as a foundation for stronger healthcare systems and healthier societies. International Nurses Day 2025: Celebrations In India, various events and activities and ceremonies are held to thank nurses for their dedication and hard work, address issues like gender equality, leadership, and innovation in nursing, and emphasise the economic and societal benefits of investing in the nursing profession. In the United States, the celebrations take place not only on a single day. Rather, they celebrate the contribution of the nurses in a week-long event from May 6 to May 12. Similarly, in Canada, they celebrate National Nursing Week each year during the week that includes May 12 since 1985. In Australia, various nursing award ceremonies are conducted during the week across many states and territories. In Ireland, an Irish nurse recruitment agency titled Nurse Jobs Ireland celebrates a week-long pro-bono campaign to mark the celebration since 2012. In the United Kingdom, every year, a service is held at Westminster Abbey in London, where a symbolic lamp is taken from the Nurses' Chapel and handed from one nurse to another. Finally, as the lamp reaches the Dean, the person places it on the High Altar. In Vietnam, nurses and other healthcare professionals host events and meetings for the betterment of nurses all across the country. Meanwhile, different countries observe Nurses Day on various dates to reflect their unique histories and cultural significance. In Singapore, Nurses Day is celebrated on August 1 to recognise the efforts of nurses in delivering quality healthcare. Thailand observes National Nurses Day on October 21, a tradition that began in 1990 to honour the birth anniversary of Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother. In Iran, Nurses Day is celebrated on the birthday of Zaynab bint Ali, which typically falls on August 3, recognising her as a symbol of compassion and caregiving. Watch CNN-News18 here. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : international nurses day lifestyle Location : Mumbai, India, India First Published: May 12, 2025, 07:10 IST
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
2 years on, Telangana gig workers' Bill catches Rajasthan's landmark law 'napping'
2 years on, T'gana gig workers' Bill catches Raj's landmark law 'napping' JAIPUR: Congress-governed Telangana's draft Gig and Platform Workers (Registration, Social Security, and Welfare) Bill is reigniting a conversation that the party's erstwhile stronghold, Rajasthan, once led - only to let the momentum slip. As the desert state's pioneering 2023 Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act lies entangled in red tape, bike taxi rider Krishna Kumar Chaudhary wakes up each morning knowing exactly how his day will end - exhausted, barely breaking even, and unable to secure a better future for his son. For thousands like him in Rajasthan's gig economy , the 2023 law signalled hope that has since evaporated in the cycle of political transition, bureaucratic delay, and corporate pressures. Krishna Kumar, general secretary of the Rajasthan Gig and App-based Workers' Union, earns Rs 700-1,000 daily ferrying passengers on his motorbike. After accounting for platform fees (Rs 100), petrol (Rs 300 approx) and maintenance (Rs 100), he is left with a maximum of Rs 400. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Best website creation site | Build your store in minutes Shopify Shop Now Undo "My room rent alone is Rs 4,000 a month. I borrow from friends to survive. I want my son to study in a private school, but I can't afford it," Kumar says. Gul Mohammed Mansoori, 50, works for a goods transport company that operates through a platform and leaves drivers to fend for themselves when customers don't pay. "The platforms deduct a 12% commission on each trip but take no responsibility for non-payment of dues. Drivers are asked to pursue customers for payments. I earn around Rs 3,000 a week and occasionally Rs 5,000 - but that's not enough," he tells TOI. Mansoori makes Jaipuri quilts, especially during the lean season, to earn a few thousand extra rupees. Rajasthan's attempt to legislate protection was the first such initiative in the country, promising social and financial security for an estimated five lakh employees driving the state's Rs 25,000-crore gig economy. Enacted by the then Ashok Gehlot govt, it aimed to create a welfare board, establish a Rs 200-crore welfare fund, and impose a 2% cess on aggregators to provide health and accident insurance, pensions, provident fund, and school education for children of workers, The Bhajan Lal Sharma led-BJP govt announced an allocation of Rs 350 crore in this year's state Budget to the Gig and Unorganised Workers Development Fund, a Rs 100-crore increase over last year's outlay. It remains unclear when the corpus will be created, or how the benefits will reach the intended targets. Home minister Amit Shah's announcement of a cooperative framework for 50 lakh app-based drivers nationwide has rekindled a semblance of hope. The model, allowing registration of two-wheelers, taxis, rickshaws, and four-wheelers, aims for democratic management and equitable profit distribution among drivers. Under the umbrella of the National Campaign for Cooperatives in Platform and Transport Economy, gig workers are also in talks with the Union cooperatives ministry for a taxi cooperative called "Sahkar Taxi" that will enable drivers to operate as entrepreneurs without having to pay commissions to existing platform service-providers. NITI Aayog projects India's gig economy will grow to 2.35 crore workers by 2029-30. Gig unions, like the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), propose funding social security through taxes, cess, CSR, platform contributions, and more. IFAT's national general secretary, Shaik Salauddin, says home minister Shah's cooperative model must involve workers to avoid replicating exploitative practices. "We need driver-led models that prioritise rights over profits. We are ready to collaborate for a true alternative." Jaipur taxi driver Suresh Prajapati, 26, awaits the day workers like him don't have to depend on platforms. "If driving is your only source of income, relying on Ola or Uber won't suffice. I make ends meet by building my base of personal customers. I have registered with the Centre's e-Shram portal in the hope that there will be some benefits someday."
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Concerns emerge over data sharing, penal provisions in gig workers bill
Hyderabad: As the state govt seeks public feedback on the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers (Registration, Social Security, and Welfare) Draft Bill–2025, one of the primary concerns raised by aggregators is the mandatory requirement to share data related to gig workers and their earnings with the govt. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to sources, aggregators are also pushing for the decriminalisation of certain provisions in the draft legislation. The bill mandates that all aggregators register with the newly constituted Gig and Platform Workers' Welfare Board within 45 days of the Act's commencement. Aggregators will be required to contribute between 1% and 5% of their transaction payouts to a dedicated welfare fund. Failure to comply could attract penalties, including fines of up to ₹2 lakh, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. Lesser violations may lead to fines of up to ₹50,000. The proposed bill introduces a dual registration system: Workers may either self-register or be registered via data provided by aggregators. Aggregators are also expected to ensure transparency by clearly communicating any deductions from workers' pay and guaranteeing timely payments in line with contractual agreements. Additionally, they are required to disclose the use of any automated systems that could affect workers' earnings or employment. "Until now, there has been little to no information on how many gig workers each company employs, their working conditions, or the structure of their payments," a source said. "While aggregators are on board with many parts of the bill, mandatory data sharing and the criminalisation of some clauses remain contentious," sources said. Workers seek minimum pay On the other hand, gig workers view the bill as a step forward but believe it lacks provisions to guarantee minimum payments per task, which they consider vital for income stability. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "This is a progressive bill, but we need more clarity and assurance on fair baseline pay for every gig—whether it's a ride, delivery, or home service job," said Shaik Salauddin, founder-president of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union. "We are also demanding stronger provisions for grievance redressal mechanisms," he said.
