Four government entities are bracing for a policy showdown that could dictate the financial state of future generations and could influence the country's economic vitality for years to come.
The feud centers on the size of the burden future generations should bear in propping up the ailing public pension system. At issue is how high premiums should be raised and by how much future benefits should be cut.
The pension system has been jeopardized in part by the fact that an increasing number of nonsalaried workers are not paying premiums under what should be a "compulsory" system to support the rapidly aging society.