Tokyo set to adopt 4-day workweek to spark baby boom

Tokyo is set to implement a four-day workweek starting April next year, aiming to address the city’s record-low fertility rate and support working mothers.

The initiative marks an unprecedented shift for a nation synonymous with gruelling work culture and poor work-life balance.

When unveiling the plan in a speech last Wednesday, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said, “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.”

As it stands, the fertility rate is at a low point of 1,2, whereas for a population to remain stable, it needs a rate of 2,1.

The concept of a four-day workweek is nothing new, with several countries in Europe adopting the measure.

This is however unprecedented for Japan, which has one of the lowest work-life balances in the world.

Many sociologists think Japan’s unforgiving work culture and rising cost of living contribute to the dropping birth rate.

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Corporate Japan has long grappled with issues of poor work-life balance. Resignations are often rejected, and the term “karoshi,” meaning “death by overwork,” has become a stark reality.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of people prioritise careers over starting families, exacerbating a long-term labour shortage and contributing to the world's highest ratio of elderly citizens.

Add to this the Japanese salarymen's infamous after-hours drinking culture…

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More schemes are set to be announced to support women in the workplace, as Japan has one of the highest gender pay gaps among OECD countries, with women making 70-80% of their male counterparts.

While four-day workweeks have gained traction in parts of Europe, boosting productivity and morale, Japan is stepping into new territory.

In a culture where long office hours are often seen as a sign of loyalty, the concept of a shorter workweek may feel a bit unconventional.

The true impact? It may become clearer by monitoring Japan’s natality rates and population trends over the next few years.

Via: CNN

Image via Freepik

Henry Cooper is a Writer at Mixmag Asia. Follow him on Instagram.

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