The government has decided to take a big and historic step regarding the declining fertility rate in Japan. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced that from April 2025, government employees will have to work only four days a week, while three days will be given leave.
The objective of this initiative is to give employees an opportunity to balance work and personal life, so that they can focus on their family and personal responsibilities. According to a report, about 1 lakh 70 thousand employees serving in Tokyo will benefit from this.
Government’s logic behind the decision
The government believes that this new policy will help in establishing a better balance between family and work life. This will especially give more flexibility to young families, which is necessary to face Japan’s demographic challenges. This step can be helpful in improving the mental and physical health of employees as well as increasing the fertility rate.
How will the new system work?
Week off days increase order released by government: Under the new policy, government employees will be allowed to work only four days a week. The three-day leave provided by this will give them an opportunity to spend more time with their family, focus on personal life and fulfill personal responsibilities.
Japan’s declining fertility rate: A serious challenge
Japan has been facing a steady decline in fertility rate for the last few decades. In 2022, only 7,27,277 children were born in the country, which is far below the rate required to keep the population stable. A major reason for this decline is Japan’s rigorous work culture, in which overtime and work pressure hinder time for family life.
Government’s expectations
Week off days increase order released by government: The Tokyo government believes that this decision will bring positive changes in the lives of employees. This will not only increase their productivity, but they will also be able to spend more time with their families. The government hopes that this initiative will improve the birth rate in the country and provide long-term strength to Japan’s social and economic structure.
This historic decision symbolizes a new direction for Japan, which is moving towards building a family-centric society by improving the working culture.
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