Employment premium hike proposed

Japan is planning to raise premiums for employment insurance in fiscal 2022, starting next April.

The government has decided to ask for greater premium payments from employers and employees as the employment insurance system is running low on funds, due to an increase in employment adjustment subsidy payments to companies partially covering leave allowances that are paid to furloughed workers.

A proposal has been made within the government to raise the premium rate to 0.5 percent for employees and 0.85 percent for employers, according to sources, reports The Japan Times.

The premium rate in fiscal 2021 is currently set at 0.3 percent of overall wages for employees and 0.6 percent for employers. These rates were in fact reduced from the original levels of 0.6 percent for employees and 0.95 percent for employers as the system had sufficient funds then.

The employment insurance is funded mostly by premiums paid by employers and employees, and contributions from the government’s general account.