One in two expectant or new mothers who need financial support in Japan said they could not prepare sufficient child care products, a nongovernmental organization?survey has found.
When asked about concerns, 88% of respondents said they could not work as much as they wanted to due to pregnancy or childbirth. The inability to sufficiently prepare baby and maternity goods was cited by 50.3%, and difficulties paying rent and utility bills by 44.9%.
The survey, conducted by Save the Children Japan between September and November last year, covered 316 individuals who applied for the Tokyo-based NGO's child care support, with responses received from all participants.
Among those surveyed, 75% were single parents, including those who had never married. Of the total, 57.9% were unemployed, and 15.5% were part-time workers. Half of the total reported they had no savings.
"There is a lack of material support such as disposable diapers and financial aid such as child allowances," an official from the NGO said. "Support should be expanded for those in the pregnant to postpartum period, who are more likely to fall into poverty due to restrictions on work."
Among single parents, 32.9% reported no arrangements for child support with the fathers of their children, while 16.5% said their former partners have no intention of acknowledging their children.
On April 1, Japan introduced a system to allow divorced parents living with their children to claim at least ?20,000 ($125) per month in child support from separated parents without prior arrangements.
"There are people who are not covered under the system, such as those whose children have not been acknowledged by the other party," the official said. "Child support should be secured as a right of the child, not a matter between parents."
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.