"Childcare Work Reduction Period Should Be Extended to Age 12"
Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, and other party leaders criticized the opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, for their "fearmongering politics" on the first anniversary of the Fukushima contaminated water discharge.
On the 22nd, Han said at the Supreme Council meeting, "It has been about a year since the Fukushima nuclear power plant treated water was discharged," and added, "Please reflect on the statements made by the Democratic Party around that time and afterward." He continued, "If even one of those statements had come true, our seas would now be polluted, the fisheries industry would be devastated, and the health of the people would be threatened," and pointed out, "However, none of the statements made by the Democratic Party have been realized."
He went on, "Because of such fearmongering, our fisheries workers have suffered damages, and our finances have been spent," and said, "I want to ask what stance the Democratic Party has taken regarding this fearmongering."
He said, "If after making such claims, there is no reflection on the results and no re-examination of the issue, such incidents will continue to repeat."
Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader, also said, "Over the past year, the government has conducted more than 49,000 radiation tests on Japanese seafood, but none exceeded the standard limits," and added, "The People Power Party appealed to stop the Democratic Party's unverified contaminated water agitation that was about to ruin our fishermen. It has been a year confirming the proposition that fearmongering and agitation cannot overcome science." Choo criticized, "Who should compensate for the damages to fishermen and merchants and the huge public funds spent? Despite fervently engaging in fearmongering politics over the past year, the Democratic Party shamelessly continued to enjoy seafood daily and has yet to offer any apology or reflection on the contaminated water fearmongering."
He urged, "We now call on the Democratic Party to take responsible reflection and apologize to break free from the stigma of being the 'fearmongering specialist Democratic Party' and the 'Democratic Party living with fearmongering.'"
Meanwhile, regarding closing the gap, Han introduced, "Currently, reduced working hours for childcare are only available for children under 8 years old or up to the second grade of elementary school," and said, "There is a growing voice that this system needs improvement." He added, "We believe the eligible age for parental leave and reduced working hours for childcare should be expanded to children under 12 years old or up to the sixth grade of elementary school," and said, "We will work to realize this." After introducing the legislative status of related ruling and opposition party lawmakers, Han emphasized, "For such livelihood bills and essential laws to overcome the population cliff, they must be prioritized and promoted on a bipartisan basis."
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