▼ Abe Delays Goal of No Waiting List for Daycare Centers by 3 Years
- Category:Event
TOKYO - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday announced a three-year delay in the government's goal of eliminating long waiting lists for daycare centers, an issue that has captured media attention amid a flood of pleas from working parents.
The government now aims to eliminate the waiting lists by the end of March 2021, rather than by the end of March 2018. Abe said in a speech that the government will secure money for 220,000 slots at daycare centers over a period of two years to help municipalities eager to address the matter.
"This time, we will put an end" to the problem, he said.
The three-year postponement in the government effort, part of Abe's key policy of promoting women's empowerment, has been attributed to a more-than-expected increase in the number of working women, which made it difficult for municipal governments to keep up with demand for daycare services.
In Japan, a lack of daycare facilities has been a major obstacle for women seeking to return to work after giving birth. A welfare ministry tally showed 23,553 children had been on waiting lists in April last year.
Under the new plan, the government also seeks to boost the slots at daycare centers by an additional 100,000 during a period of two years through March 2023, based on a forecast that the employment rate for women aged between 25 and 44 will rise to 80% from the around 73% currently.
But the government's efforts face an uncertain prospect as it is unclear how the government will come up with the money needed to turn the plan into reality.
The government's original plan was to secure 500,000 slots at daycare centers over five years by the end of next March. While about 530,000 slots are likely to be made available over the period, shortages have persisted, in part due to an increase in the number of working women.
Demand for daycare facilities is particularly strong in central Tokyo.
In February, Abe admitted difficulties in meeting the government's original deadline. He later said a new plan would be unveiled in June.
© KYODO
The government now aims to eliminate the waiting lists by the end of March 2021, rather than by the end of March 2018. Abe said in a speech that the government will secure money for 220,000 slots at daycare centers over a period of two years to help municipalities eager to address the matter.
"This time, we will put an end" to the problem, he said.
The three-year postponement in the government effort, part of Abe's key policy of promoting women's empowerment, has been attributed to a more-than-expected increase in the number of working women, which made it difficult for municipal governments to keep up with demand for daycare services.
In Japan, a lack of daycare facilities has been a major obstacle for women seeking to return to work after giving birth. A welfare ministry tally showed 23,553 children had been on waiting lists in April last year.
Under the new plan, the government also seeks to boost the slots at daycare centers by an additional 100,000 during a period of two years through March 2023, based on a forecast that the employment rate for women aged between 25 and 44 will rise to 80% from the around 73% currently.
But the government's efforts face an uncertain prospect as it is unclear how the government will come up with the money needed to turn the plan into reality.
The government's original plan was to secure 500,000 slots at daycare centers over five years by the end of next March. While about 530,000 slots are likely to be made available over the period, shortages have persisted, in part due to an increase in the number of working women.
Demand for daycare facilities is particularly strong in central Tokyo.
In February, Abe admitted difficulties in meeting the government's original deadline. He later said a new plan would be unveiled in June.
© KYODO
- June 2, 2017
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