Hello Work branches to be set up at universities

The government plans to set up Hello Work job placement branches at universities to support college students who have been struggling to find jobs amid a stagnant economy.

A draft proposal for promoting the employment of young people calls for Hello Work officers to work closely with the schools' job placement personnel so students can find jobs.

It also promotes enhanced career education and support for small firms so they can secure human resources.

In local areas, the government plans to enhance cooperation among municipalities, schools, businesses and nonprofit groups to promote internships and practical job training.

The draft will serve as a basis for working group discussions by a government panel consisting of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and relevant ministers, as well as experts and representatives from the labor and management fields, who are expected to come up with their final proposals in June.

A government estimate said Saturday that livelihood subsidies are expected to grow to ¥5.2 trillion in fiscal 2025, up 40 percent from the ¥3.7 trillion projected for the year through next March.

Since welfare costs, which totaled ¥2.2 trillion in fiscal 2002, are rising, the ministry forecast will inevitably stir debate on how to make recipients more self-reliant and how to guard against welfare fraud.

Annual welfare benefits are expected to reach ¥4.1 trillion in fiscal 2015, ¥4.6 trillion in fiscal 2020 and ¥5.2 trillion in fiscal 2025, the estimate said.

The costs translate to 0.8 percent of Japan's gross domestic product for fiscal 2012 and supposedly 0.9 percent for fiscal 2025, it said.

Medical aid accounts for around half of the benefits and will surge to ¥2.6 trillion in fiscal 2025 from ¥1.7 trillion in fiscal 2012, the estimate said.

The number of people on welfare has been setting new records each month since July 2011 and reached 2,091,902 as of January this year.

While many of the recipients are elderly people, there are an increasing number of working-age people who have lost jobs amid the Great Recession triggered by the near collapse of global financial markets in 2008.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120514a2.html