Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
(MHLW) announced the number of newly born children in 2014 yesterday. The
number (estimated value) is 1.01 million people. The number has been decreasing
for almost 40 years since 1973 (just the year I was born in) from 2.09 million.
It is actually due to the government’s neglect
of action. Many experts say it is too late for regaining the number. However, I
think there are still lot of things to do for the government.
One solution is to improve the child care
allowance system. It is not sufficient for a family to reduce its burden to
have one more baby under the current circumstances. I myself think Japan can
refer to France which apply more effective incentive system for increasing the
number of children.
The other solution is administrate the
labor standard of companies more intensively. There are laws that protect
workers to continue working while growing up babies. However, the reality is
very far from the legally expected situation.
I don’t think the government is not serious
on both of them. Then, the situation won’t change. Japan is shrinking even now.
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