Non-payment of child support costs Is Japan a “terrible” country? Oct. 11 19:07
I don't want my children to struggle even if they get divorced.
There may be many parents who think this way.
But the reality is that divorced mother-children are not able to receive child support for three out of four children. One local government has begun to consider the publication of the names of parents who have not paid childcare expenses, saying, "Many single-parent families face poverty after divorce. The only terrible country is developed and only Japan."
There are many discussions on the internet, such as “welcome” and “too much”.
Why has this situation continued for many years?
What I saw in the interview was the “right of the child” left behind.
(Kobe broadcast station reporter Naoki Azuchi / Network reporter Momoko Ariyoshi)
welcome? Or are you overdoing it?
A new system proposed by Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture.
The city issues “recommendations” and “commands” to the other parent, instead of a single parent who has not paid the child's support even though the amount of the support is fixed at the trial.
If you still don't pay, we are considering making a name announcement and paying a fine on the homepage.
While there were people on the internet saying “welcome” or “reasonable”, there were voices that questioned “too much” or “people who don't pay even if published”.
“I do n’t want to get involved”.
In the first place, child support is a right that children should receive.
Some people continue to send child support every month even if they divorce and leave their children.
According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 24.3% of mothers and children receive child support.
In fact, it is a good situation that the rights of three out of four children are neglected.
What does that mean?
I visited a mother who had never received child support.
A child (pseudonym) in the Kanto region (30s). I divorced two years ago and raised a 5-year-old boy, but I received no child support from my ex-husband and have two non-regular jobs.
They tend to lose physical condition and have to take children with developmental disabilities to hospitals and nursing care (facilities for development support).
For this reason, I often take time off from work, and my annual income is less than 2 million yen. It is said that he lives somehow withdrawing his savings.
“I'm really doing my best and living while thinking about what I want to do. I feel as if I can work a little bit as much as I can even when I feel sick and reduce the minus as much as possible.”
The former husband repeated DV such as not spending the living expenses or vomiting A child.
When divorce is started, it is said that they have been attacked steadily, such as “I am disqualified from my mother” and “I have a problem with my personality”, seeking mediation and referrals one after another in search of custody, meeting with children, and property sharing.
Mr. A, who became stronger in thinking “I do not want to be involved any more”.
“I didn't know if I could get enough child support even after the trial, and I was sick because of the effects of DV, and I had to give up considering the effort and costs.”
When asked about the future, he said, “Honestly, I don't see much. I don't know if I can go to university.”
Even if there is an arrangement, it is not paid
In some cases, you may not be able to receive child support, even though you have negotiated in mediation or trial.
B child (30's) living in Tokyo lives in his parents' home and raises a 2-year-old child. According to Mr. B, the self-employed husband did not pay money and women and did not pay the living expenses while living together.
In divorce mediation, a decision was made to ask husbands to pay “marriage costs” such as living expenses for living separately, but only once. Immediately lost my payment.
Child B who filed a petition for salary in court. Then, my husband reports that the monthly income is reduced by 100,000 yen, and the attitude of trying to reduce the calculated amount of child support is seen.
Furthermore, some of the lawyers who consulted said that there are many cases where self-employed people can hardly afford childcare expenses, and they were even encouraged to give up on trial.
“I'm worried about raising my child alone, and I want some money. But after all, I can't get away from those who say I don't have money. I can't start out if I don't know what the property is even for foreclosures. "
Even those who say “Because it ’s troublesome”
Mr. Fujiko Sugawara, who is familiar with the divorce issue, points out:
“Various people, such as those who do n’t pay maliciously, even if they ’re obligated, and those who do n’t want to pay before divorce. In cases where it is difficult to pay due to troublesome payment due to remarried, etc. There are also cases where even if a trial is made, you will not come to court or divorce will be established. (Attorney Sugawara)
“This terrible country is a developed country and only Japan”
Akashi City has been making efforts to prevent nonpayment of child support costs.
▽ Distribution of documents encouraging support for childcare expenses to couples who have decided to divorce ▽ Attorneys with legal qualifications accompany the court ▽ Partial assistance for contract costs with guarantee companies (replacement and collection of childcare expenses)
All of these measures are unusual throughout the country.
There were cases where payments were made due to the movement of the government, but there were cases where payments were still unpaid, so they were not fully resolved.
Regarding the current state of child support, Mayor Izumi of Akashi said, “My parents are so full of thought that they are going to break up, and the problem of child support is left unattended. As a result, many families face poverty after divorce. “The only terrible country is a developed country and only Japan,” he said in a harsh tone.
This is because Mayor Izumi's remarks, “This is such a terrible country,” and in Europe and the United States, bold efforts are being made with children's rights first.
Overseas ... Forcibly collected by “Chiten”
In the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, the state (or the state government in the case of the United States) collects child support from the salary and forcibly collects it, and in France and Sweden, the country changes when the parent does not pay There is a system.
In the case of non-payment, there are cases where measures such as suspension of driver's license or rejection of passport are taken.
Payment request with home delivery pizza
According to the mayor of Izumi, there are even cases where not only the name is announced but also the face photo is published.
In the United States, if an unpaid parent orders a pizza, the pizza box that was delivered to you may receive a photo with a face photo and “pay child support”.
“It ’s not the case that you do n’t pay for childcare and you eat delicious pizza,” he says.
The mayor of Izumi has begun to consider publishing the name of non-payment person on the homepage because Japan needs to be close to the system of other countries.
The point that the protection of privacy and the impact on children is pointed out, “I know that is serious, and it is the end of the fall that the child is hurt by the public announcement. Operation in the form is indispensable. "
Furthermore, as the court becomes able to refer to information such as parents' bank accounts and offices that will continue to be non-payable in April next year due to the revision of the Civil Enforcement Law, we will ask for support for salary seizure procedures and payment of fines. We also made it clear that we will review the ordinance to do.
Expert operation should be careful
Will you do that? Measures in Akashi City that can be heard.
Professor Masayuki Tanamura of Waseda University, who is also a member of the Akashi City Study Group, who is familiar with supporting single-parent households, points out:
“It can be evaluated by actively trying to solve the problem of non-payment of child support expenses. However, the name is publicized so that the other party is stuck with a non-payment label and the work cannot be continued. “It is desirable that it be operated psychologically unless it is very malicious.” (Professor Masayuki Tanamura)
In addition, “First, it is important to make arrangements for child support properly between couples at the time of divorce. What kind of support can be provided by the government when nonpayment continues? What can be effective? I want to repeat verification. "
What should we do to prevent children from thinking that it is such a terrible country? I think this is an issue that has been asked by adults after the discussion that began in Akashi City.