The birth rate in Japan has fallen drastically. As of 2022, it is estimated that there will only be around 800 thousand births.
Seeing these conditions, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida determined that children were the ‘top priority’ for his government. His party has also prepared a strategy and promised benefits so that its residents want to have children.
In his Jan. 4, 2023 speech, Kishida promised to propose the strategy by June, when the government draws up fiscal and economic policy guidelines. It contains about how to double the budget for child care support.
Kishida said the government plans to increase the amount of child support for parents. Currently, the childcare allowance is 15,000 yen or around 1.7 million rupiah per month until they reach the age of 3.
After that, an allowance of 10,000 yen or around 1.1 million rupiah will be given until the child graduates from junior high school.
“Policies on children and parenting are the most effective investments for the future,” Kishida said as quoted by The Japan Times, Tuesday (24/1/2023).
Quoted from The Guardian, some experts argue that the subsidies provided by the government still tend to target parents who already have children. According to them, it has no effect on eliminating the difficulties that make young people reluctant to start a family.
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