Abe said he was certain Japanese voters would support the changes after parliament pushed through the bills before dawn Saturday, as his scandal-tainted government struggles to restore support ahead of key elections next month.

An opposition bloc submitted a no-confidence motion against the prime minister attempting to halt the legislations' passage, but it failed.

The tradition, known in Japanese as "amakudari," or "descent from heaven," has long cemented the bond between Japan's public and private sectors _ and allowed bureaucrats to cash in on their clout after years of serving the state.

But the practice has come under heavy scrutiny and criticism following a series of public works scandals.

Under the new plan, the government will set up a job placement agency for retiring bureaucrats next year. The newly enacted law also bans officials from seeking jobs at companies that they oversaw.

Opposition parties said the legislation will worsen the situation, saying the agency would only justify and allow the practice to go on.

The proposals passed in the upper house also included a set of pension-related bills.

Abe sought to quicken the bills' passage amid a widening scandal over missing pension records, which has dealt a major blow to Abe's government, as Japan gets ready for the upper house elections on July 29.

"I think the passage of bills was a great accomplishment and I am certain to gain support from the Japanese people," Abe told reporters.

Japanese media criticized the way the ruling bloc pushed through important bills during the current parliament session. Abe last week announced a 12-day extension of the parliament to give lawmakers time to pass the bills.

"The high-handed steering of the parliament was extraordinary," national daily Asahi said in its editorial Saturday.

"The rush of votes this time is obviously in consideration of the upper house elections. But wouldn't such ill-advised election tactics rather increase disbelief among voters?" asked another daily, Mainichi.

Recent polls show support for Abe's government has plummeted to about 30 percent from 70 percent when he took office in late September.