The Tokyo government has decided to give its workers a four-day work week. This means they’ll have three days off every week. The government wants to help working mothers and boost the city’s very low birth rate.
Japan’s birth rate has been falling for many years. Last year, there were only 727,277 births recorded. The government wants to encourage young people to get married and start families.
The new work arrangement will start in April. The government also announced another policy that will allow parents to trade off some of their salary for the option to leave work early.
Tokyo’s Governor, Yuriko Koike, said the government wants to protect and enhance the lives of its people. Japan’s work culture is often criticized for being too demanding. Many people work long hours, which can make it hard for them to balance work and family life.
Some companies in the West are also exploring the idea of a four-day workweek. Studies have shown that it can improve workers’ well-being and productivity.
However, the idea is still seen as radical in Japan. Other countries in Asia, like Singapore, are also introducing family-friendly policies. Singapore has introduced guidelines that require companies to consider employees’ requests for flexible working arrangements.
