Beginning in April 2025, the Tokyo Metropolitan Administration plans to implement a four-day workweek for public sector workers.
The goal of this program is to assist working mothers and address Japan’s declining fertility rate. Government workers will be allowed to take three days off each week under this arrangement. Additionally, parents of young children will be able to leave work early under another policy in exchange for a reduced income.
“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,” Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike stated.
These actions are part of a larger initiative in Japan to promote family planning and improve work-life balance.
Since its birth rate has been declining continuously, Japan has been struggling with a low fertility rate. Fertility fell to a historic low of 1.2 in 2023, well below the replacement level of 2.1 required for population stability. There were only 727,277 births in 2023, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.
One of the main causes of Japan’s population problems, according to experts, is the country’s intensive work ethic. Young individuals have been discouraged from raising kids due to high living expenses, long work hours, and “karoshi” (death by overwork).
Furthermore, only 55% of women are employed, compared to 72% of men, indicating a persistent gender gap in workforce participation. To address these discrepancies, the government has been advocating for more flexible work arrangements and paternity leave.
Numerous studies, such as the Microsoft Japan Experiment in 2019, have shown that shortened work days can enhance employee well-being and productivity. In Japan, where employee loyalty is frequently correlated with hours worked, the idea of a four-day workweek is still relatively new.
Other countries are also adopting policies in order to support families such as Singapore, Belgium, and the UAE.
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