Prime Minister Takaichi says ``income limit will be considered in the future'' - House of Representatives Budget Committee

At the House of Representatives Budget Committee on the 14th, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gave an example of the ``approximately 20 million people'', or about 30% of Japan's currently employed people, who will be eligible for the subsidy to reduce the burden on workers, which is intended to be introduced in conjunction with the consumption tax cut on food items, based on similar systems in other countries. ``This is just a reference,'' he said, avoiding making any explicit statements about the specific system design, saying ``we will consider it in the future, taking into account deliberations in the Diet.''

Prime Minister Takaichi calls new benefits ``groundbreaking,'' without specifying amount or requirements - House of Representatives Budget Committee

The prime minister explained that the setting of the upper limit on income will be considered by ``referring to international comparisons of the net burden rate (of taxes and social insurance premiums on income) and systems in other countries, as well as securing permanent financial resources.''

He then pointed out the systems in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, saying, ``In other countries, about 30% are eligible for this benefit.'' ``The number of active workers in Japan is approximately 60 million, and about 30% of that number is calculated to be around 20 million,'' he said.

The Prime Minister also stated that for a household consisting of a married couple and two children with a household income of 5.1 million yen or less, Japan's net burden rate will be higher than in other countries, adding, ``We will consider this with reference to such data.''