TOKYO: Starting April 2025, Tokyo will roll out a four-day workweek as part of its efforts to improve work-life balance and promote gender equality. This move aims to create a more flexible work environment, especially for women juggling careers and childcare.

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Under the new system, employees will have the option to work fewer hours, offering them greater flexibility in managing personal and professional responsibilities. To further support working parents, the government will also introduce a childcare partial leave programme, enabling parents to take time off for childcare while maintaining job security.

The initiative is seen as a step toward addressing some of Japan’s long-standing challenges, such as labour shortages and the country’s declining birth rate. By encouraging a better work-life balance, authorities hope to make it easier for women to participate in the workforce, which could also boost the country’s overall labour force.

Labour shortages have been a pressing issue for Japan, with an ageing population and shrinking birth rate placing strain on the country’s economy. This new policy is part of broader reforms aimed at creating a more sustainable work environment and encouraging more people to enter the workforce.

Supporters of the four-day workweek highlight its potential to improve mental health, increase job satisfaction, and reduce burnout. Companies in other countries that have adopted similar workweeks have reported higher productivity and employee happiness.

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As Japan faces growing calls for improved labour conditions, this policy could serve as a model for other cities and countries grappling with similar workforce challenges.