Unpaid pension premiums

[Guest]

Somebody help me out with the pension kerfuffle here. From what I understand, a lot of the greasy politicians caught not paying their pension dues didn't pay, for the most part, when the system was voluntary. You don't pay, you don't collect. It's simple in my mind, but is this such a great sin that it must result in resignations? Help me read between the lines.

-JB

[PHONICS]

Somebody help me out with the pension kerfuffle here. From what I understand, a lot of the greasy politicians caught not paying their pension dues didn't pay, for the most part, when the system was voluntary. You don't pay, you don't collect. It's simple in my mind, but is this such a great sin that it must result in resignations? Help me read between the lines.

-JB

It's not compulsory to use toilet paper either!!!!

[sos]

It isn't voluntary to pay for the pension premiums. By law, "adults" are required to pay into the pension scheme. However, like NHK, I had refused to pay my pension premiums when the nice old man from city hall came to collect the payments. However, now that I am working FT, the payments are automatically deducted from my paycheck, so... BTW, I was asked by the government to be in "kokumin nenkin" but now that I am in (I think) "shakai nenkin" my company chips in for some of the pension I would be entitled to when I am, you know, 65 (what a scary thought ).

In terms of politicians resigning, or Tetsuya Kikuchi's leave of absence (I read it was a penalty for criticizing politician who hadn't paid the premium, though there was a time in Tetsuya's life where he hadn't paid either), I think it is more about "keeping face." When Goro Inagaki was arrested for slightly hitting policeman with his car, he took a leave of absence from SMAP as well. Politicians, celebrities, news casters take their responsibilities as "role models" in Japan seriously, I guess. I am happy not many Japanese expect that from us gaijin teachers!!

[Melodious_Thunk]

It isn't voluntary to pay for the pension premiums. By law, "adults" are required to pay into the pension scheme.

Well, it isn't voluntary for ordinary people, but it used to be voluntary for Diet members. Actually, I feel kind of sorry for them (kind of). Even for ordinary people, the system is a confusing mess. For the Diet members, it was even moreso, as they're on, AFAIK, a separate pension system.

BTW, I was asked by the government to be in "kokumin nenkin" but now that I am in (I think) "shakai nenkin" my company chips in for some of the pension I would be entitled to when I am, you know, 65 (what a scary thought ).

Kokumin nenkin is for people who are unemployed or self-employed. Premiums are fixed at 13,300 yen a month regardless of income. If you work full time, your company is required to enroll you in what is called kosei nenkin. This is calculated as a percentage of your annual income, which is 13.58%, with the employer paying half and half deducted from your pay. You have to contribute for at least 25 years in order to receive a pension, BTW. The paid link on this site provides more information.

Dogdays, sorry, but I don't know (1) why Kan actually resigned or (2) what his future holds.

[sos]

sorry, MT, you are right.
The political stuff, I don't know, am sometimes interested in.
But in terms of the pension plan I am on now, it isn't shakai but kosei.

Thanks for setting me straight

[Guest]

So the answer is, "Nobody really knows except the old codgers in Nagatacho."

Phonics, your one-liner speaks volumes.

-JB

[allblacks]

It's nice that we foreigners can opt out of the pension thingy.

The future looks pretty bleak for those who will be retiring after and around 2040 or so in Japan. By 2020, 1/4 of the population will be elderly(Sugimoto, An intro to Japanese Sociology) ; all drawing on pensions. At the rate things are going in Japan, the pension fund reserves will be dry long before that time. So who wants to contribute only not to get ANYTHING when they retire? Setting something up in your own country and contributing to it beats the living shit out of paying for some other cunts retirement and then getting nothing. yourself! And you will get better interest rates/returns on your hard earned moolah.

Rant over