Hello、everyone。I'm Takashi, a blogger who brings you the latest information about Japan.。This time、2024We will explain in detail the revisions to Japan's living system that will come into effect from October 1, 2020.。These changes are、Not only Japanese people、This will also have a big impact on foreigners living in Japan.。
In this article、Changes in each system、The background、We will introduce the importance for Japanese and foreigners based on professional and reliable information.。Please read till the end、Please use it for your future life and business.。
1. Expansion of child allowance
Changes
- Elimination of income restrictions：Income restrictions for receiving child allowance will be abolished。
- Expansion of payment targets：The scope of payment will be expanded from the previous ``up to junior high school students'' to ``up to high school students.''。
- Increase in benefit amount for third child and beyond：The amount of benefits for children after the third child will be increased to 30,000 yen per month.。
- Implementation period：Payment under the new system is2024Decemberwill start from。
background
Japan has been facing a declining birthrate and aging population for many years.、Declining birth rate has become a social problem。The government will reduce the economic burden on families raising children.、To lower the hurdles to having children、We have decided to expand such allowances.。
Importance for Japanese people
- Strengthening financial support：High school students are the period when education costs the most.、Expanding allowances will help reduce the burden on household finances.。
- Expectations for countermeasures against the declining birthrate：With the removal of income restrictions、Because middle- and high-income earners can also receive allowances.、Expected to improve birth rate。
- Enriching the educational environment：By allocating additional funds to education and lessons、Expanding future possibilities for children。
Importance for foreigners
- Expansion of eligibility：Foreigners who are registered as residents in Japan can also receive the benefit if they meet the conditions.。
- Stability of livelihood：By receiving allowances、The cost burden of raising children is reduced、Life in Japan will be more stable。
- Promote community participation：By understanding Japan's childcare support system、Deepen your ties with the local community。
2. Expanding the application of employee pensions
Changes
- Expansion of applicable company scale：The size of companies that are required to participate in the Employees' Pension Plan will be reduced from "101 or more employees" to "51 or more employees."。
- Expansion of eligible workers：Part-time workers who meet certain conditions are also eligible for welfare pension benefits.。
background
Due to the increase in non-regular employees、Pension disparity in old age has become a social issue。The government will ensure that all workers can enjoy a stable retirement.、Expanding the scope of social insurance coverage。
Importance for Japanese people
- Improved sense of security in old age：By joining the welfare pension system、The amount of pension you will receive in the future will increase。
- Improving the working environment：Expansion of social insurance coverage、Leads to improved treatment of non-regular employees。
- Expanding employment options：The gap between regular and non-regular employment is narrowing.、Enables diverse work styles。
Importance for foreigners
- Obtaining pension eligibility：If you have paid pension insurance premiums for more than 10 years in Japan,、You will be able to receive a pension in the future。
- Receipt of lump-sum withdrawal payment：If certain conditions are met when returning to Japan、You can receive a part of the insurance premium you paid as a lump sum payment.。
- Improving social trust：Joining social insurance、It may be advantageous when renewing your visa or applying for a mortgage loan.。
3. raising the minimum wage
Changes
- National average rise：The national weighted average minimum wage is 1,055 yen per hour.、Increased by 51 yen from the previous year。
- Regional increases：16The minimum wage exceeds 1,000 yen in each prefecture.、The highest hourly wage is 1,163 yen in Tokyo.。
background
Price increases and inequality correction、and to improve the living standards of workers.、The minimum wage is being raised。Also、Preventing rural population outflow、It also aims to revitalize the local economy.。
Importance for Japanese people
- Improving living standards：Due to increased income、Consumption activities have become more active、Overall economic growth is expected。
- Correcting regional disparities：Due to local minimum wage increases、The wage gap with urban areas will be reduced.。
- Increased employment opportunities：with fair wages、This will promote retention of human resources and creation of new jobs.。
Importance for foreigners
- stable income：For foreign workers and international students working on minimum wage、Increased income leads to stability in life。
- Prevention of unfair labor：Due to wage increases、It is expected that unfair low-wage labor will be suppressed.。
- Improving the working environment：Fair wages lead to improved overall working conditions、Creates a comfortable work environment。
4. Regular vaccination of new coronavirus vaccine
Changes
- Expanding the scope of routine vaccinations：65Those over the age of 60 and those aged 60 to 64 with underlying health conditions are eligible for routine vaccination.。
- Occurrence of out-of-pocket costs：You will need to pay up to 7,000 yen for the vaccination fee.。
- Transition to voluntary vaccination：65Vaccination is voluntary for people under the age of、As a general rule, the full amount is your responsibility.。
background
As the spread of the new coronavirus continues for a long time、Promoting vaccinations for elderly people who are at high risk of developing severe disease、This is a measure to optimize medical costs.。
Importance for Japanese people
- Health protection for the elderly：Through routine vaccination、Can reduce the risk of infection in the elderly。
- Medical expense management：Because self-pay amount will be incurred、Planned management of medical expenses is necessary。
- Improving health awareness：With vaccination as an opportunity、Increased interest in health management。
Importance for foreigners
- Health maintenance support：Elderly foreign residents are also eligible.、You can live with peace of mind。
- Notes on costs：If you feel a language barrier、Be careful when obtaining information from medical institutions。
- Contributing to the community：by vaccination、Contributes to the formation of herd immunity。
5. Increased counter burden for off-patent drugs
Changes
- Increase in counter burden：Despite the availability of generic drugs、If you want an original drug whose patent has expired、Counter burden will increase。
- Target items：More than 5 years have passed since the generic drug was released.、Targets 1,095 items with a usage rate of 50% or more。
- exception condition：If a brand-name drug is required at the doctor's discretion, or、Not applicable if the pharmacy does not have the generic drug in stock。
background
Rising medical costs are putting pressure on national finances、There is an urgent need to optimize medical costs.。Promoting the use of generic drugs、Directly leads to a reduction in national medical expenses。
Importance for Japanese people
- Medical cost savings：By using generic drugs、It is possible to reduce your out-of-pocket costs。
- Maintaining the quality of medical care：Generic drugs are as effective as brand-name drugs、Can be used with confidence。
- freedom of choice：Compare costs and effects、You can choose the medicine that suits you。
Importance for foreigners
- Medical expense management：Medical expenses in Japan can be expensive.、Reduce costs by using generic drugs。
- Importance of information acquisition：Beyond the language barrier、It is important to obtain accurate information from your doctor or pharmacist.。
- Utilization of health insurance：Understand the Japanese health insurance system、Proper use can reduce the burden of medical costs。
6. postage price increase
Changes
- Price revision：Enclosed letter from 84 yen to 110 yen、The price of postcards will increase from 63 yen to 85 yen.。
- Implementation period：2024Applicable from October 1st。
- past price increases：This is the first increase in the price of sealed letters in 30 years since 1994.、It's been 7 years since I posted a postcard since 2017.。
background
Due to the spread of e-mail and SNS、The amount of mail handled is decreasing.。On the other hand、Labor costs and logistics costs continue to rise.、Price revision was necessary to maintain service.。
Importance for Japanese people
- Increased cost of living：Increased costs for daily postal services。
- Business impact：Companies that conduct business by mail、Cost review is necessary。
- Accelerating digitalization：There may be a further shift towards electronic means of communication。
Importance for foreigners
- Increased cost of international mail：The cost of sending letters and parcels to your home country may increase。
- Review of communication methods：Increased use of online calling and messaging apps。
- cultural influence：Opportunities to experience traditional letter culture may be reduced.。
Summary and future prospects
2024These system reforms that will come into effect from October 2020 will be、This is an important initiative to address issues facing Japanese society.。Declining birthrate, aging population, and economic disparity、Increased medical costs, etc.、To address a wide range of issues、The government is developing multifaceted policies.。
Impact on Japanese people
- Review of life plan：Because it directly affects household finances and future plans、Understand the details of each system、Appropriate response is required。
- Promoting social participation：Taking advantage of the system change、We hope to deepen our involvement in local communities and communities.。
Impact on foreigners
- Importance of information gathering：Because most of the information is in Japanese、It is important to obtain accurate information from reliable sources。
- Utilization of support organizations：Local governments, NPOs, etc.、Make active use of organizations that provide support for foreigners。
- Deepening cultural understanding：By understanding the system、Deeper understanding of Japanese society and culture、Life becomes more fulfilling。
Sources and reference links
- [Starting in the second half of FY24! ] Changing living system - October 1, 2024
- Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare official website
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau data
- Japan Pension Service
- Minimum wage information for each prefecture
Author profile
Hello、My name is Takashi。With over 20 years of experience living in Japan.、Japanese social system and culture from a foreigner's perspective、We are sending out daily life information。We have helped many foreigners live in Japan with peace of mind.、We have strived to provide accurate and reliable information.。
- Specialty field：Japan's social security system、labor law、immigration policy
- qualifications：Administrative scrivener、Japanese language teacher qualification
- Activity：Director of a multicultural coexistence promotion organization、Writing and lecture activities in various media
Inquiries and opinions、Have any questions?、Please feel free to contact us using the comment section or contact form。To make your life in Japan richer、We will do our best to support you。
lastly
Life in Japan、You may often feel confused due to differences in systems and cultures.。but、By obtaining accurate information and responding appropriately、The impact can be minimized。We will continue to provide you with the latest information in an easy-to-understand manner.、Please check our blog regularly。
I hope your life in Japan will be fulfilling.。
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