TOKYO, Dec. 3 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The government is drafting a new employment stimulus package under which it will grant a subsidy of up to 1 million yen per person to companies hiring non-student part-timers as full-time employees, informed sources said Tuesday. The proposal, supported by the ruling coalition, follows a 26.9 trillion yen economic stimulus package revealed in late October, and comes amid recent concerns about job security, which have heightened due to massive workforce cuts among non-regular workers and an increase in the cancellation of job offers to college students.
Under the stimulus plan, the government would offer up to 1 million yen to small and midsize businesses and 500,000 yen to larger companies every time they make a part-time employee a full-time worker before their contract is terminated.
It is also considering granting job creation subsidies to firms that hire those who are facing job cancellations or are unable to get a job, including college students.
According to recent reports, 302 college students have had job offers for next year retracted in Japan as of late November, against the backdrop of the economic downturn.
The planned subsidies are part of Prime Minister Taro Aso's policy of helping the employment situation for young people, including part- timers, who are expected to face difficulties finding stable employment amid deteriorating overall employment conditions in Japan in the wake of the global financial turmoil.
As a means of reducing possible job offer withdrawals, the government is also considering disclosing the names of the companies concerned if the retraction is judged to be malicious.
The new employment stimulus package also includes government plans to expand expenses to small and midsize companies to boost employment of the disabled and the aged.
