Komeito seeks follow-on support measures

May 12 , 2020

At a bicameral budget committee hearing held on May 11 that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended, two Komeito House of Representatives members—Michiyo Takagi and Toshiko Takeya—urged the government to implement a series of programs to support university students and small business operators.

Takagi recommended that the maximum state subsidy be raised from 8,330 yen per day to 15,000 yen for companies that have not furloughed or fired employees despite being under voluntary lockdown. She also said such a program should be retroactive. Takagi then reiterated Komeito’s call to extend as soon as possible a payout of 100,000 yen to university students in dire need for financial support.

Takeya, meanwhile, said the government must step up its financial aid to cover commercial tenant rent, provided through a special provisional grant to local governments, is imperative. Next, she urged that freelancers—who are currently ineligible for another special grant supporting small businesses, including individual operators—to be granted access to the program.

Led by Prime Minister Abe, the government agreed in principle on the two Komeito lawmakers’ recommendations.

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