June 15, 1999
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| June 15, 1999 | atimes.com | |
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| Japan Economy Japan plans to create 750,000 jobs, revitalize industry TOKYO - The government plans to create about 750,000 public- and private-sector jobs and to revitalize industry, according to a draft plan. Unemployment in Japan is at its highest level since World War II. According to the plan, central and local governments would directly create 300,000 jobs each. People with foreign language skills will be hired as temporary teachers at elementary and middle schools, for example, and governments will contract work out to private companies and nonprofit organizations. Governments will have two years to complete the job creation program. Subsidies provided to companies in information/telecommunications and other growth fields that take on employees earlier than scheduled are expected to create another 150,000 jobs. The plan calls for expanding the size of current subsidies provided to partially cover wages and training costs for new workers at private businesses. Subsidies for new facilities will be given to companies taking on new workers. Funds for the jobs creation program are to be set aside in the supplementary budget to be drawn up at the next extraordinary session of the Diet, expected to be convened in late September. Conditions for the use of 60 billion yen in emergency jobs-creation funds set aside at the end of last year will be eased. Specifically, regions with two consecutive quarters of 5.4 percent unemployment (instead of the current 5.7 percent) will be permitted to get at the funds. Industry revitalization measures include promoting business restructuring, support for technological development and cultivation of smaller firms and venture businesses. A tax panel of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will study the necessary tax measures to make the measures possible. The government is expected to endorse the plan Friday. (Asia Pulse/Nikkei) | |||||||||
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