Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held a meeting with Mr. Nobuaki Koga, President of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO), and others representing RENGO at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address, "I advocate the revival of a large middle class as a philosophy of my policy. I believe that in addition to a growing economy, in order to revive a large middle class we need the thorough implementation of employment measures.
With regard to the comprehensive reform of taxation systems and social security, this is becoming a large-scale inclusive reform involving political and administrative reforms that require, among other measures, some sacrifices on our part. It should never be the case that the reform is postponed, and accordingly, I am determined to make whole-hearted efforts to advance the reform. No matter who we are, we all need social security when we are put in a challenging situation, when we face difficulties, and when we are in need. Only when the social security system becomes sustainable can we develop an environment to revive a large middle class, and the social security system will never become sustainable unless it covers each and every generation, including the generations you belong to, which are the generations of people who are in their prime as workers and the generation of people raising children.
In that sense as well, the comprehensive reform must be realized. I will strive to realize it during this session of the Diet."