New Agency to tackle Japan's slumping birth-rate

The Japanese Government has established an Agency charged with overseeing child policies as the country’s birth-rate hits a new low.

The Children and Families Agency, under the direct supervision of Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, will tackle a wide range of challenges, including the perilously low birth-rate, child abuse and poverty.

Mr Kishida said it would be the “control tower” in compiling policies, while eliminating sectionalism.

The Agency, the first Government body to be established since the Digital Agency in September 2021, brings together relevant experts from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, as well as the Cabinet Office.

 

Combined with people from the private sector and Local Governments, the Agency will have a workforce of around 430.

 

It will be headed by Yumiko Watanabe, a senior bureaucrat in the welfare area of the Ministry.

 

Its launch comes as new statistics show the number of babies born in the country last year fell to below 800,000 for the first time since record-keeping began in 1899.

 

Mr Kishida has warned that Japan is “on the brink” of losing its social function against a backdrop of the falling birth-rate.

 

Aside from tackling the birth-rate problem, the new Agency is also tasked with supporting pregnant women, children with disabilities, and ‘young carers’ — children who routinely look after their family members.

 

Among new measures, the Agency plans to introduce a system requiring a certificate of no criminal record for people assuming jobs linked to children in the wake of a series of sexual abuse cases by babysitters that have come to light in recent years.

 

Although the Agency has been designed to eliminate sectionalism among Government organisations, schooling — a key area related to children — will remain with the Ministry of Education.

 

About ¥4.8 trillion ($A500 million) has been allocated to the Agency for the fiscal year starting April, but critics say it may be difficult to secure a sufficient budget for child policies in a stable manner.

 

Mr Kishida has expressed willingness to double his Government’s spending on child policies, but he has not specified its starting point, or how to secure the increased amount, fuelling speculation the Government will have to increase taxes to finance the costs.

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