Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has announced a new plan to help Japan’s capital to fight against the country’s declining birthrate. Beginning in April, the city’s government employees will have a four-day work-week to help ease the burden on parents and encourage young couples to start a family.
“We’ll keep reviewing our work styles flexibly so that nobody has to give up their careers due to life events such as childbirth and childcare,” Koike said during a speech at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly’s fourth regular session.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, last year saw the country’s birthrate fall to a record 1.2 children per woman over her lifetime. The number of last year’s marriages also fell to 474,717, the lowest number since World War II, according to Newsweek. The new policy is just one of several attempts by the government to stimulate the country’s birthrate over the last several years. In 2021, the government began encouraging companies to switch to a four-day work-week, but the idea has only caught on with 8% of companies, according to the Associated Press.
“Now is the time for Tokyo to take the initiative to protect and enhance the lives, livelihoods and economy of our people during these challenging times for the nation,” stated Koike.
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