Report welfare cheats, hard-up Japanese town tells residents
Hard-up municipality passes law to curb waste of benefits on gambling, drink and hostess bars
A hard-up town has told residents to inform on their neighbours if they suspect them of frittering away their welfare benefits on gambling, drinking or "adult entertainment".
The local government in the town of Ono, in rural Hyogo Prefecture outside Osaka, passed a law on Wednesday that requires residents to inform the city hall if they see recipients of state aid playing pachinko - a gambling surrogate that is a form of pinball played on upright boards in vast halls and invariably accompanied by flashing lights and deafening music.
Other pastimes deemed inappropriate for their welfare cheque and child-care allowances are gambling (on horse racing, bicycle or boat races), excessive drinking, lavish dining out or spending time with hostesses in the town's entertainment district.
"Across Japan, there are a lot of people who are receiving welfare payments when they should not," said Sachie Asami, a spokeswoman for the local government. "These people are able to work and earn money, but they do not.
"Since we first suggested the new regulation in February, we have had more than 2,000 residents contact us by phone, e-mail or fax message and more than 60 per cent of them are very much in favour of the new regulations," she said.
Since we first suggested the new regulation in February, we have had more than 2,000 residents contact us by phone, e-mail or fax message and more than 60 per cent of them are very much in favour of the new regulations
Ono is the first municipality in Japan to pass rules on how recipients can use their welfare payments and requiring other residents to inform on them. It may catch on in other cash-strapped towns if the law proves effective.