Japan, which is already among the most developed countries in the world, is now grappling with the problem of rising birth rate in its country. For the past few decades, the birth rate of children in Japan has been falling continuously, and to deal with this situation, the Japanese government has launched a new initiative.
Under this initiative, it has been proposed to give employees in Tokyo three days off a week, so that they can strike a better balance between their family life and work life.
Option to work only four days a week
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike recently announced that from next year, i.e. 2024, employees in Tokyo will get the option to work four days a week. The main objective of this scheme is to improve the fertility rate in Japan, as working women in the country are often forced to leave their careers to give birth and raise children. Under this new scheme, employees will get the option to take three days off a week and spend more time on their families, reducing the pressure to have children. Governor Koike said the initiative aims to encourage Japanese couples to have children so that they can maintain a balance between their work life and family life. This step is an attempt to bring a big change in society, where both working women and men can maintain their careers while prioritizing their families.
Why is this step necessary?
The fertility rate in Japan has declined over the past few years. In 2022, the birth rate in Japan was recorded at just 727,277, which is extremely low compared to the total population of the country. One of the main reasons for this is Japan’s overtime work culture, in which employees have to work long hours and due to this they do not have time to take care of the family. According to World Bank data, women’s employment participation in Japan is 55%, while this rate is 72% for men, which is much lower than other developed countries. Apart from this, female employees often have to choose between family and career, which sometimes forces them to give up their careers. Such social and functional challenges have led to a decline in the birth rate in Japan.
Flexibility and changes in working conditions
Governor Koike says that efforts are being made to bring flexibility in this new policy, so that parents do not face difficulties in raising their children and they can also maintain their career. Along with this, working parents will get the option of a balanced cut in their income under this policy. This policy will be especially beneficial for parents whose children are in primary school. Under this plan, they will get the option of working fewer hours a week, allowing them to spend more time with their children. Thus, this move is a big relief for families, as they will be able to work as well as take care of their children.
Experience of working week globally
The impact of this plan will not be limited to Japan only. In 2022, 4 Day-Week Global tested a four-day working week. More than 90% of the employees who participated in this test expressed their desire to adopt it, as they found that it improved their work-life balance. After this, other countries such as Singapore have also moved towards flexible working hours and a four-day working week.
Birth rate and economic situation in Japan
The decline in birth rate in Japan is not only a social problem, but it is also affecting the economic condition of the country. Due to the aging population and low birth rate, there is a shortage of workers in Japan, which is affecting the country’s growth rate. These problems can become even more serious if it is not resolved soon. This effort of the government is expected to promote the birth of children in the society, which can prove beneficial for the development of Japan in the coming years.
This move of the Japanese government is part of a larger social and functional change. In this, employees are getting the option of giving more time so that they can maintain their career while raising children. The aim of this policy is not only to increase the birth rate, but it is a big social change, which gives families a chance to maintain a balance in their personal and professional life. This initiative can become an inspiration not only for Japan, but also for countries around the world, where the need for balance between family and work life is being felt.
