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On November 26, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the fourth planning meeting on a social security system oriented to all generations at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, a discussion was held on specific points towards the compilation of the interim report.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Today, we held a discussion on specific points towards the compilation of the interim report by the end of the year.
 
In September, we launched this planning meeting on a social security system oriented to all generations and began holding discussions. Alongside these discussions, we also held hearings with women, youths and experts in work style reform, as well as with the relevant parties in the fields of medicine, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and labor. Furthermore, on November 20, we exchanged views on the social security reform oriented to all generations with a diverse group of people, from teens to people in their 70s, who are facing various situations, not only from Tokyo but also from outside Tokyo.
 
To date, the focus of the social security reform discussions has covered pensions, healthcare, and nursing care. With the arrival of the 100-year life society, this reform of the social security system to one that is oriented to all generations is aimed at implementing a series of reforms, which includes work-style reform, as a comprehensive package. The implications on various schemes, such as pensions, are important from the viewpoint of diverse work-styles, at the different life stages for women, including marriage and childbirth—at some of these stages, it will also be important for men—or when suffering from illness or becoming old.
 
Amidst the diversification of lifestyles, it is necessary to formulate a reform plan, covering the entire spectrum of social security, including pensions, labor, healthcare, and nursing care, as we discussed today, so as to sustain the peace of mind not only of the elderly but also children, the childrearing generation and the current working generation, changing the stereotypical view taken of the elderly.
 
Specifically, alongside the swift submission of bills to secure employment opportunities up till the age of 70, we also need to proceed with detailed coordination towards the interim report to be compiled by the end of this year and next summer’s final report, which will address the scope of the enrollment in the welfare pension, while taking into consideration the burdens to and productivity of the SMEs as well as other issues related to relevant fields including medicine.
 
I would like Minister in charge of Social Security Reform Nishimura and the relevant ministers, including Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kato, to advance concrete reviews towards the compilation of the reports, while taking into consideration the views presented at today’s meeting, and coordinating fully with the ruling parties.”