Japan gov't to consider including sex workers for virus compensation english.kyodonews.net

KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 23:12 | All, Japan, CoronavirusThe Japanese government will consider making bar hostesses and sex workers also eligible to receive compensation for parents unable to work due to school closures in the wake of the spread of the new coronavirus, a senior official said Monday.
Under the program for subcontracting freelance workers, which is different from a similar scheme for company workers, the government had decided to provide 4,100 yen ($38) a day for those unable to work due to school closures.
On Friday, health minister Katsunobu Kato said the government had no plans to change the conditions.
However, the government has continued to face criticism that its policy is "occupational discrimination" and there has been a signature-collecting campaign against its initial decision.
Many of them are also single mothers," said Manabu Terada, an independent lawmaker, when he questioned the chief Cabinet secretary in the parliamentary session.