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Tokyo also introduced a new policy that allows parents of elementary school children to trade part of their salary for the option to leave work early
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said the move will be implemented from April 2025. (Representative image)
In a bid to shun the unwanted title of ‘world’s oldest population’, the Tokyo government has come up with a move to introduce a four-day workweek for its employees. The plan attempts to encourage couples to spend quality time amid the record low fertility rates nationwide.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike announced that from April 2025, employees of the metropolitan government will have the option to take three days off each week, reported NBC news.
“We will review work styles with flexibility, ensuring no one has to give up their career due to life events such as childbirth or child care,” she said in a policy speech at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly’s fourth regular session.
The new policy aims to encourage Japanese couples to have children, as the country’s fertility rate reaches a historic low. Last year, the rate dropped to just 1.2 children per woman over her lifetime, despite the government’s efforts to motivate young people to start families, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. A fertility rate of at least 2.1 is needed to maintain a stable population.
In addition, Koike introduced a new policy that allows parents of elementary school children to trade part of their salary for the option to leave work early.
“Now is the time for Tokyo to take the lead in protecting and improving the lives, livelihoods, and economy of our people during these difficult times for the nation,” she stated.
Record Low fertility rates
With Japan’s fertility rate at a record low, only 727,277 births were registered last year, according to the Health, Labour, and Welfare Ministry. This decline may be partly attributed to Japan’s overtime work culture, which often forces women to choose between careers and family. The gender gap in labour force participation is also more pronounced than in other high-income nations, with 55% of women participating compared to 72% of men, as reported by the World Bank.
However, introducing a four-day workweek could provide government employees with more time to focus on raising families.
In a 2022 series of global trials coordinated by 4 Day Week Global, a nonprofit, various companies participated in a four-day workweek pilot. Over 90% of employees wanted to continue with the shortened workweek, reporting improved physical and mental health, better work-life balance, and greater life satisfaction. Measures of stress, burnout, fatigue, and work-family conflict all decreased, with participants giving the programme a rating of 9.1 out of 10.
This year, another Asian country, Singapore, tested a shortened workweek. New guidelines require companies to consider employee requests for flexible work arrangements, including four-day workweeks or staggered hours.
