The Digital Agency, which will be the command tower for digital reform, was launched on the 1st.
Having strong comprehensive coordination authority such as the right to make recommendations to each ministry and agency, in addition to supervising and supervising the national information system, we will work on improving administrative services utilizing the My Number system.
Following the enactment of the "Digital Reform Law" in the previous Diet, the Digital Agency, which will be the command tower for digital reform, was established.
It will be set up in a complex building in Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and will start with a system of 600 people, including about 200 people from the private sector.
The Digital Agency has strong comprehensive coordination authority such as the right to make recommendations to each ministry and agency, and in addition to supervising and supervising the national information system, it also collectively records and allocates related budgets.
We will also work to standardize the information systems of local governments, improve administrative services using the My Number system, and digitize fields such as education, medical care, and disaster prevention.
On the 1st, Prime Minister Suga will appoint the minister in charge of digital reform Hirai as the first "digital minister", and the personnel affairs will be assigned to Mr. Yoko Ishikura, an emeritus professor at Hitotsubashi University, as the "digital supervisor" at the top of the office. It is expected to be decided by the Cabinet.
Then, the inauguration ceremony will be held, and Prime Minister Suga will give instructions to the staff online.
Utilization of my number card becomes a pillar
With the establishment of the Digital Agency, the government wants to promote the digitization of national and local governments and improve the convenience of residents.
One of the pillars is the improvement of administrative services using My Number Card.
My Number Card will be available in earnest as a health insurance card at medical institutions and pharmacies from October.
In addition, during the next fiscal year, if you register an account from the dedicated site, you will be automatically paid benefits in the event of a disaster, and some of the functions of My Number Card will be installed on your smartphone.
Furthermore, we are aiming to introduce a system that integrates with a driver's license by the end of Reiwa 6.
In addition, by standardizing national and local systems and facilitating cooperation, for example, in the event of a new infectious disease epidemic in the future, vaccine delivery, inventory management, personal inoculation records, etc. will be one. It will also be possible to manage it with the system.
Regarding measures against the new coronavirus, the Digital Agency is urgently considering the digitization of the so-called "vaccine passport" that proves vaccination by the end of the year.
On the other hand, regarding My Number Card, the government has set a goal to reach almost all the people by the end of next year, but the penetration rate of the card was only 37.5% as of the 30th of last month, and it has become popular. Promotion is an issue.
In addition, it will be asked whether elderly people who are not accustomed to handling smartphones can create an environment where they can enjoy the benefits of digitalization.
One-third of the staff also have side jobs and remote work from the private sector
The Digital Agency, which starts with a system of 600 people, has hired about 200 people, one-third of its staff, from the private sector, such as Internet-related companies, in order to secure highly specialized IT human resources.
In addition, as it is required to respond to the speed of change in technological innovation, staff are assigned to each project such as the development of new systems without establishing departments or sections, and part-time staff can work side-by-side or work remotely. It is said that it recognizes a good way of working.
On the other hand, the government plans to establish a new "digital" category from the recruitment test for general public servants, which will be held next year and in the 4th year of Reiwa, to promote the acquisition and development of human resources.
In the future, we would like to create an environment where talented human resources can build their careers while going back and forth between the government office and the private sector, and promote the digitization of the public and private sectors.
Transparency to prevent adhesions with private companies is also an issue
A research report by outside lawyers on how the app was ordered for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics was inappropriate because it included a non-confidential private company in the app development project. I pointed out that.
The Digital Agency has appointed a large number of human resources from the private sector, and it is essential to ensure fairness by preventing collusion with the company from which the staff came from over the procurement and maintenance of the system.
For this reason, a “Compliance Committee” has been set up in which outside lawyers advise the Digital Minister to ensure compliance with norms such as employees hired by the private sector.
Then, the transparency of the work is enhanced by having the staff register information such as the company of the side business and the shares held in advance and introducing a mechanism to prevent the staff involved in procurement from participating in the bidding. I want to come.