Japanese government in hot water over labour data collection

The wide-spread error has resulted in an underpayment of unemployment benefits, in the range of billions of yen.
By: | January 16, 2019

 

The Japanese government is under pressure for erroneous data collection on the labour market since 2004.

The wide-spread error has resulted in an underpayment of unemployment benefits, in the range of billions of yen.

A thorough investigation is underway and was ordered by Labor Minister Takumi Nemoto towards the end of last year.

Government officials conducting the research reportedly surveyed only about one third of the 1,400 firms in Tokyo that they were supposed to speak with.

They were supposed to gather data from all firms with 500 or more workers.

The monthly labour survey is not only used to calculate benefits. It is also indicative of the country’s employment conditions – and indeed, is used by the government and the Bank of Japan when making economic policy decisions.