Japan's welfare minister seeks higher long-term care fees in fiscal 2027
In short
Japan's welfare minister Kenichiro Ueno (上野賢一郎) said on October 15 he would seek a substantial revision to long-term care service fees for fiscal 2027. He cited rising prices, improved staff conditions and the need to secure workers; the government plans a decision by year-end.
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Japan's welfare minister Kenichiro Ueno (上野賢一郎) said on October 15 he would work to secure a substantial revision to long-term care service fees for fiscal 2027, citing continued concern about rising prices. Speaking to reporters in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama prefecture, he emphasised improving staff conditions and securing personnel. Tokyo Shimbun reported that the government would reach a conclusion by the end of this year. [ 1 , 2 ]
Ueno said stable operating foundations and sufficient staff were essential to providing high-quality services. Nikkei reported that he called for thorough discussion of those issues ahead of revisions to both care and disability-welfare fees. NHK said he intended to secure the budget needed to increase care fees in ways that would address inflation and improve conditions for people working in care. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The minister visited dementia group homes and day-care services in Tokyo's Suginami district, as well as disability facilities and employment-training sites in Higashimatsuyama. Facility representatives repeatedly raised the need for wage increases and concerns over higher prices, Nikkei reported. Some also said they could not afford repairs to ageing buildings. Tokyo Shimbun likewise reported concerns about prices and the need to raise employees' pay during his visits. [ 1 , 2 ]
Nikkei said the government's economic and fiscal policy guidelines, compiled in July, called for improving care and disability-welfare workers' conditions to levels comparable with other occupations. It reported that average pay in those fields was about 80,000 yen a month below the average across industries. Care-service fees are set by the government generally every three years and are providers' main revenue source, giving them a strong influence on staff salaries, the newspaper said. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
Government-set service fees are a main source of income for care providers and strongly affect staff pay, Nikkei reported. The newspaper said average monthly wages in care and disability welfare were about 80,000 yen below the all-industry average.
Key facts
- Ueno spoke to reporters during a visit to Higashimatsuyama in Saitama prefecture. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He said stable business foundations and securing staff were important for high-quality services. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Long-term care fees are generally reviewed every three years, with fiscal 2027 the next revision year. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The size of the fiscal 2027 fee increase and the budget required. The reports give no proposed percentage or budget amount; the government has yet to decide.