• Business
  • Politics
  • Investing
American Investor Club
World News

Tokyo government gives workers 4-day workweek to boost fertility, family time

by December 6, 2024
December 6, 2024

The Japanese capital is set to introduce a four-day workweek for all government employees, in its latest push to help working mothers and boost record-low fertility rates.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says the new arrangement, which begins in April, could give employees three days off every week. It separately announced another policy that will allow parents with children in grades one to three in elementary schools to trade off a bit of their salary for the option to clock out early.

“We will review work styles … with flexibility, ensuring no one has to give up their career due to life events such as childbirth or childcare,” said Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike when she unveiled the plan in a policy speech on Wednesday.

“Now is the time for Tokyo to take the initiative to protect and enhance the lives, livelihoods and economy of our people during these challenging times for the nation,” she added.

Japan’s fertility rate, which has seen a precipitous fall for many years, reached another record low in June, even as the government ramped up efforts to encourage young people to get married and start families.

Only 727,277 births were recorded last year, with the fertility rate – the number of children a woman has in her lifetime – dropping to a fresh low of 1.2, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. For a population to remain stable, it needs a fertility rate of 2.1.

The Japanese government has been pushing for a raft of “now or never” policies to reverse the population crisis, including ensuring men to take paternity leaves, while other local governments have also introduced measures to improve work conditions.

Many sociologists attribute the ever-plunging birth rates to Japan’s unforgiving work culture and rising costs of living. Grueling hours have long been a problem for corporate Japan where workers often suffer from health hazards and, in extreme cases, “karoshi,” a term meaning death by over work.

As in other countries, women are often under pressure to choose between their career or family, but Japan’s unique overtime work culture makes pregnancy and raising children especially daunting.

In fact, according to the World Bank, the gender gap in the country’s labor force participation, which stood at 55% for women and 72% for men last year, is higher than other high-income nations.

The shift to a four-day workweek has sparked growing interest in the West, where some companies are beginning to explore compressed hours as a way to attract talent seeking better work-life balance. Some studies have shown that it improves well-being and productivity among workers.

But the idea is still seen as radical for Japanese companies, which often equates time spent at work with loyalty for the company.

And Tokyo isn’t the only place in Asia to implement more family friendly policies. Earlier this year, Singapore introduced new guidelines requiring all firms to consider requests by employees for flexible-working arrangements. That could include four-day weeks or flexible hours.

This post appeared first on cnn.com
previous post
Syrian rebel leader says goal is to ‘overthrow’ Assad regime
next post
Georgian protesters detail brutal beatings by special forces

You may also like

Critics slam Mexico’s gentrification protests as xenophobic. Activists...

July 10, 2025

EU’s von der Leyen survives parliament confidence vote...

July 10, 2025

A piece of the illegally felled Sycamore Gap...

July 10, 2025

Universities threatened with funding cuts under proposed plan...

July 10, 2025

At least four killed and many ‘kidnapped’ in...

July 10, 2025

South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol back...

July 10, 2025

Deadly strikes on Kyiv as Russia continues ferocious...

July 10, 2025

Trump praises ‘good English’ of Liberian president, prompting...

July 10, 2025

Does Putin hit back when Trump criticizes his...

July 9, 2025

Desperate Gaza doctors cram several babies into one...

July 9, 2025

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Name Price24H (%)
    bitcoin
    Bitcoin(BTC)
    $120,286.82
    1.80%
    ethereum
    Ethereum(ETH)
    $3,663.87
    6.48%
    ripple
    XRP(XRP)
    $3.55
    13.10%
    tether
    Tether(USDT)
    $1.00
    0.01%
    binancecoin
    BNB(BNB)
    $746.82
    3.70%
    solana
    Solana(SOL)
    $183.77
    5.95%
    usd-coin
    USDC(USDC)
    $1.00
    -0.01%
    dogecoin
    Dogecoin(DOGE)
    $0.245510
    15.66%
    staked-ether
    Lido Staked Ether(STETH)
    $3,657.95
    6.44%
    cardano
    Cardano(ADA)
    $0.89
    15.34%

    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Copyright © 2025 americaninvestorclub.com | All Rights Reserved


    Back To Top
    American Investor Club
    • Business
    • Politics
    • Investing