Japan explores welfare reform

TOKYO, June 13 (UPI) -- Japan is planning to review and then reform its Social Insurance Agency, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported Monday.

Health and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi has decided to set up a private advisory body next month to examine mid- and long-term reform plans for the agency, the paper said. It cited officials in the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.

"The ministry intends to spend about a year drawing up detailed plans to review the agency's business operations and to restructure the organization of the agency," the paper said, citing its sources.

The review will study the reorganization and integration of pension and welfare-related facilities built under state-run pension programs, the paper said.