look news india
Four-day work week in Tokyo amid low birth rate: A new initiative has been started to improve the birth rate in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. From the new year, the rule of 4 days for office work will be applicable here. That means people will now have to work only four days a week. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike announced that starting in April next year, employees will be given the option to take three days off a week.
In the last few years, people in Japan have been forced to leave their careers midway to raise their children. This is also considered to be one of the reasons for people not having children. Government policies over the years have significantly worsened the country’s fertility rate. And some new methods are being adopted by the local administration to improve it.
So that no one has to give up their career
“In the meantime, we will introduce flexibility in working patterns and ensure that no one has to give up their career to give birth or care for a child,” Governor Koike said. “This initiative is to encourage the birth rate of Japanese couples.”
According to the Tokyo administration, the scheme will also help parents whose children are in primary school get the option to work less, thereby balancing their salaries.
japan birth rate
Only 727,277 births were registered in Japan last year. This shortage is said to be a result of the country’s overtime work culture, which forces women to choose between career and family. According to World Bank data, gender employment inequality in Japan is higher than in other wealthy countries, with women’s participation at 55% and men’s at 72%.
The four-day working week framework was piloted globally by 4 Day Week Global in 2022. More than 90% of the employees involved expressed their desire to maintain this schedule. Other Asian countries such as Singapore have also placed emphasis on offering flexible working hours.