Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The president of one of Japan’s political parties is calling on the government to offer more support to businesses in Japan as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the Democratic Party For the People (DPFP), says that businesses are not only suffering in the areas that are under a state of emergency, but in all areas of Japan and the government needs to respond to the cries of help from these businesses.

“The government has stopped financial support and rent support,” Tamaki noted. “It’s time to provide some assistance regardless of the region or industry.”

The Democratic Party for the People has proposed a Japanese version of PPP, the Paycheck Protection Program instituted in the United States that provides businesses with cash benefits. The DPP says it has been inundated with requests for assistance.

“We will continue to strongly demand cash benefits of 100,000 yen for the working generation and 200,000 yen for low-income earners,” Tamaki said in a press release. Currently, support funds up to 200,000 yen can be borrowed and workers who do not receive an allowance from a company are also entitled to assistance.

“We will continue to listen to the voices of the people and citizens, and as a policy-led, centrist reform party, we will continue to improve the system and create new support measures,” Tamaki stated.

The Democratic Party For the People currently has 10 seats in the House of Representatives, and 15 seats in the House of Councilors jointly with a small parliamentary group.