Mar 23, 2020 06:00:00

The risk of homelessness increasing with the double punch of new coronavirus infection and rising rent

The new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) children of the school in response to the epidemic and school closures, the company and the acceptance of the holiday subsidies to parents who did not get forced the rest of the work, from March 18, 2020

Health and Welfare The Ministry of Labor has started . It has been controversial that the amount of freelance payments under this system is 4100 yen per day, but similar discussions exist overseas and are classified as `` casual workers '' without security in Australia It is considered problematic because people are more likely to be homeless.

Coronavirus puts casual workers at risk of homelessness unless they get more support https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-puts-casual-workers-at-risk-of-homelessness-unless-they-get-more-support-133782

Australian employment is divided into three types: full-time, part-time, and casual. Of these, 'casual workers' have irregular working hours, no guaranteed number of hours, no annual leave or paid leave such as full time or part time, but the meaning of filling in such disadvantages The minimum wage is set at 25% higher than the other two forms.

However, since many casual workers work in cafes and restaurants, their outbreaks have been affected by the spread of the new coronavirus infection. People with disposable income from wages of A $ 600 / week, or less than A $ 600 combined with income and benefits, are particularly likely to be homeless if they are between the ages of 19 and 30. And that.

This is partly due to rising rents in Australian cities such as Melbourne and Sydney. The figure below shows how disposable income for people living in two cities, Sydney and Melbourne, is being squeezed by rent. The percentage of rent in income increases in the order of blue, orange, and red.

For example, the top row shows a case where the weekly income from casual work is A $ 600 (about 38,600 yen) and personal income including non-wages is A $ 604 (about 38,900 yen). Is shown. If two people live in a room with an average rent of 520 AUD in Sydney, the rent accounts for 43% of the income and the disposable income per week is 344 AUD ( 22,100 yen). On the other hand, if you live in the same Sydney and live in a room of AUD 495 (about 31,900 yen) by three people, this ratio will be reduced to 27%, so you can spend more money on things other than rent You.

However, even if you live with two people in one room, the wage you receive per week is AUD 200 (about 12,900 yen), the unemployment allowance ``

New Start '' is AUD 198 (about 12,700 yen), and all If your personal income reaches 444 AUD (about 28600 yen), the rent accounts for more than 59% of the income and only 66 AUD (about 4200 yen) remains after you pay the rent . When casual workers are unable to work, they are in a situation like this, and there is a concern that there is no other way but to leave the house without living.

Australia will

receive a one-time benefit of approximately A $ 750 (approximately ¥ 48,200) from March 31 for approximately 6.5 million low-income earners, including casual workers. Is not. While the problem of casual workers being compromised has been acknowledged, the Australian government said on March 10, 2020, `` Casual workers should have more savings because they have a higher hourly wage than the other two forms. 'We will not provide a solution to the problem immediately.

Australian government won't 'jump to a solution' to help casual workers in coronavirus crisis | World news | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/10/australian-government-warned-not-to-drag-its-feet-on-help-for-casual-workers-in-coronavirus-crisis

In response, the Australian Industry Group is urging the government to provide prompt assistance to those in need, who have lost their jobs or are unable to work, including casual workers.

Australian government plans coronavirus 'safety net' package as fresh rate cut tipped | World news | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/19/australian-government-plans-coronavirus-safety-net-package-as-fresh-rate-cut-tipped

In Australia, one in four workers is classified as 'casual,' but of course, not all casual workers are low-income.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 34.6% of all casual workers earn more than AUD 2,400 (about 154,400 yen). 26.6% of people have AUD 600-2399 (about 38,600 yen-154,400 yen), 27.4% have less than AUD 600, and 11.5% have debt.

If a casual worker loses his job due to a pandemic of a new coronavirus infection, he or she can receive financial assistance called a job seeker . The amount that people can receive per week is A $ 326 (about 21,000 yen). It has been pointed out that since the new start has been combined, 'it has not kept up with the rise in rent despite financial support,' and it is thought that it is difficult for casual workers to continue to pay rent with support at the time of writing the article.