Tokyo to Implement Four-Day Workweek to Support Working Mothers and Boost Fertility Rate
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced that it will introduce a four-day workweek for its employees starting in April 2025. This move is aimed at supporting working mothers and addressing Japan’s record-low fertility rate of 1.2, which is far below the 2.1 rate needed for a stable population.
As part of the new policy, more than 160,000 Tokyo Metropolitan Government employees will be able to take Fridays off, giving them a three-day weekend and more time to attend to family responsibilities. The initiative also includes a new system allowing parents with young children to reduce their working hours by up to two hours a day.
The goal of the policy is to help working parents, particularly women, better balance their careers with child-rearing duties. This is a significant move in Japan, where the country’s demanding work culture has long made it challenging for people to juggle work and family life.
The success of this policy will depend on whether it leads to long-term cultural shifts in Japan’s work environment. If successful, it could pave the way for other companies and organizations to follow suit, promoting a more family-friendly work culture and helping to address the country’s low fertility rate.