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.¡±
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