Tokyo Introduces 4-Day Work Week To Support Working Mothers & Increase Fertility Rates
The new arrangement will begin in April.
By Tamara Jayne — 09 Dec 2024, 12:35 PM
In a groundbreaking effort to address Japan's declining fertility rates and improve work-life balance, Tokyo is set to implement a four-day work week for government employees
The new policy, which will take effect in April, allows workers to take up to three days off each week but will still require them to work 155 hours a month.
Under the initiative, parents with young children will also have the option to trade part of their salary for the ability to clock out early. This move is part of a broader effort to support working families and ease the challenges of balancing career and childcare.
According to CNN, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike emphasised the importance of flexibility in work arrangements, stating, "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."
Japan has long struggled with one of the lowest fertility rates globally, currently at 1.3 children per woman — well below the replacement rate of 2.1 required for population stability
This demographic crisis has led to a shrinking workforce and growing pressure on the aging population.
To help reverse this trend, policymakers hope that the four-day work week will reduce the burden on working parents, particularly mothers, and encourage more families to consider having children.
The initiative also aims to alleviate the societal pressures that have traditionally led women to prioritise domestic responsibilities over their careers.
By offering flexible schedules, the programme seeks to give parents, especially women, the opportunity to spend more time with their families without sacrificing professional aspirations
Companies involved in the programme are expected to adopt flexible working hours to help parents manage childcare and household duties more effectively.
This new policy is a significant step towards reshaping Japan's work culture and promoting a more family-friendly environment.
