Japan prime minister says government considering swift additional relief
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday the government would consider rent relief for people affected by the spread of the new coronavirus, such as members of the restaurant industry, as well as support for the living expenses of students who cannot work part-time due to business suspensions.
“We will take additional measures swiftly, based on discussions among the ruling parties,” Abe said at a press conference.
The prime minister also said the government would expand “employment adjustment grants,” in which the government subsidizes part of the allowances paid by companies to their employees. The government is considering raising the grants’ current ceiling of ¥8,330 per person per day.
More than 800 municipalities have started accepting applications online for emergency relief of ¥100,000 per person across the board. Abe stressed, “We want to deliver [the money] as soon as possible.”
Regarding an additional cash distribution, the prime minister said, “We want to make a decision based on a thorough assessment of developments and situations.”
The Liberal Democratic Party on Monday began arranging to implement measures to reduce the rent burden on small and midsize companies regardless of industry, deeming it was difficult to differentiate by the type of business. The LDP plans to draw up a draft as early as Thursday.
The LDP is considering a package of loans and grants. It will set an upper limit on the amount of subsidies and determine to what extent the government will shoulder the burden. Komeito is considering entrusting the details of rent relief to local governments, while opposition parties have submitted their own bills to the Diet.
