[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the seventh meeting of the National Council for Promoting the Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens at the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, there was a discussion on improving the environment surrounding childcare and nursing care, particularly the securing of human resources for childcare and nursing care, and on the mechanism for a positive cycle of growth and distribution.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

“Thank you for your lively discussion today.

For the securing of human resources for childcare and nursing care, we need to formulate comprehensive measures in the Plan to Realize the Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens.
We will steadily secure the necessary financial resources and implement measures in FY 2017 in regard to issues including, firstly, improving employment conditions; secondly, fostering diverse human resources and utilizing the elderly; and thirdly, lightening workload through improved productivity and creating an environment in which people can work safely and comfortably, and with a sense of satisfaction.

In regard to improving the employment conditions of childcare workers, along with newly implementing a pay rise equivalent to 2%, we will establish a system for career advancement, and for employees who have built up skills and experience as childcare workers, we will implement improvement in conditions so that there is no wage gap with other competitive industries.

In regard to improving the employment conditions of caregivers, similarly, we will establish a system for career advancement and implement improvement in conditions so that there is no wage gap with other competitive industries.

Next is the mechanism for a positive cycle of growth and distribution. Today, Minister Ishihara proposed a quantitative trial calculation of the mechanism for a positive cycle of growth and distribution, and policies to achieve a GDP of 600 trillion yen. Reflecting these results, we will formulate the Plan to Realize the Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens.

This meeting marks the completion of discussions on these separate topics. Working in cooperation with Minister Kato, Minister Ishihara, Minister Shiozaki, and the other relevant ministers, I would like you to accelerate your activities so that a Cabinet decision on the Plan to Realize the Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens can be achieved within next month.”