All non Japanese residents to get a piece of simulus package, but don't hold your breath
 The government's ¥2 trillion cash handout plan to stimulate the economy was finally passed on March 4. When we posted about this plan
back in November, it appeared that among non Japanese
residents, only permanent residents who would receive the payments. That has changed, and all non Japanese residents registered as of
February 1, 2009 will be called upon do some stimulating of their own. Most will recieve ¥12,000 and children under 18 and people aged over
65 get ¥20,000.
However, if you are counting on your slice of the pie to fund your spring holidays, you'd better think again; unless you live in Akitakada that is.
According to
Chugoku Shinbun, that rural "city" is the only one that says it will be able to
send out the application forms and make payments by the end of the financial year.
The scheme is proving to be a
huge headache for local governments which have been saddled with the costs of
implementing the plan and it is unlikely many will be able to make the payments by the end of this financial year. Most municipalities in Hiroshima
Prefecture plan to have the applications out by the end of March, several more by the end of April, but Hiroshima City government has announced that it
is impossible for them to get the applications out to the 520,000 eligible households before April and have declined to say when payments will eventually be made.
The city apparently is having trouble compiling a register of those eligible for the payments from the registered residents register and registered
aliens register. But don't worry, they have increased the original 4 people working on this to 6, and are looking for 2 more to run a dedicated call
center.
If you are eligible for the cash handout, look out for the forms in your mail. Send them back with your bank details and a copy of your driving
license or other proof of identity. If you believe that the whole thing is a worthless and cynical moved aimed at boosting the popularity of the LDP
government in lieu of any real ideas, you can put your money where your mouth is by checking the appropriate box to indicate you'd rather not receive
the money.
Their is a great deal of debate, not to mention
skepticism
about how effective the stimulus plan will be, but if you are looking for ideas as to how to spend the cash, Chugoku Shinbun did an extensive
survey (of 20 people) on how local residents plan to blow their ¥12,000 bounty.
Answers ranged from buying kids clothes, suits, stuff for hobbies and electrical goods to savings, donations and going for a drive. One man declared
that if everyone spends it at the same time, it will boost the ailing economy while others stated that ¥12,000 doesn't go very far.
It would go further in Thailand, so maybe put off that trip until Golden Week.
Paul Walsh
March 2009
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