Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japanese厚生 労 働 省, Kosei Rodo - shō, English Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in short. MHLW ) originated in the administrative reform of 2001 through the merger of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (厚生 省, Kosei - shō ) and the Ministry of Labour (労 働 省, Rodo - shō ). The MHLW is responsible for the pension system, health care and national health insurance, unemployment supply, the labor market and worker protection. Thus it is responsible for most social of Japan, the 21 trillion yen accounting for almost half of the expenditure of the Japanese budget of 46 trillion yen (excluding debt service and transfers to the local authorities) in fiscal year 2007.

Since October 2012 Wakio Mitsui 's Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

The MHLW are (社会 保 険 庁, Shakai Hoken -chō ) subordinate and the Central Commission for Employment (中央 労 働 委员会, Chuo Rodo iinkai ) The Social Insurance Office.