As labor shortages become an increasingly pressing issue amid the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said he will consider ways to overcome issues related to "income barriers" that impact workers such as part-timers.
The barriers are thresholds at which part-timers start paying taxes and social insurance premiums, and can result in some workers curbing working hours to avoid reaching certain income levels.
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Katsunobu Kato has also expressed eagerness to tackle the issue. "I want to hold deeper discussions to consider what steps will be possible," Kato said at the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on Thursday.
