Chapter 1: My Wife’s Mixed Feelings
My wife, watching the evening news, said, “Pensions are important for our future, right?”
But seconds later, she frowned and exclaimed, “Wait, part-timers have to pay pension premiums now? That’s unfair!”
That contradiction says it all. The Japanese government has just passed a reform bill expanding pension coverage to part-time workers. Under the new rule, working more than 20 hours a week automatically enrolls you in the employees’ pension system, regardless of income. But this means a larger portion of income gets deducted as premiums.
Chapter 2: Reform or a Silent Tax?
Social media is ablaze. “Isn’t this just another tax hike?” “No one told us our take-home pay would drop!”
While the government claims it’s for a “better future,” those struggling now find little comfort. It's a “silent tax” – quiet in appearance, loud in impact.
My wife quipped, “How can I worry about retirement if I can’t even afford tonight’s dinner?”
Chapter 3: The Vanishing “Key Policy”
Initially, this bill was supposed to include enhancements to the basic pension for Japan’s “employment ice age” generation. But pressure within the ruling party led to scrapping the idea.
Even my wife noted, “Helping the younger poor is good, but making current workers and businesses pay for it? That’s not fair either.”
It seems reforms often mean taking from those who can least resist, while sidelining the truly vulnerable.
Chapter 4: Policy with No Master
Why push this bill now, so close to an election? The ruling party itself is divided. Is someone orchestrating this behind the scenes?
It brings to mind the 2012 tax hike under PM Noda—an eerily similar pattern of unpopular policy followed by political fallout.
In the end, “reform” today seems more about collection than protection.
I may not be an expert, but it sure doesn’t feel like this is for the people.