TOKYO, Japan, Dec 10: The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is set to implement a four-day workweek for its employees starting in April, aiming to support young families and address Japan’s declining fertility rates. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike announced the initiative during a policy speech at the fourth regular session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.

Under the new policy, metropolitan government employees will have the option to take three days off each week. Governor Koike emphasized the importance of flexibility, stating, “We will review work styles to ensure no one has to give up their career due to life events such as childbirth or childcare.”

This initiative comes in response to Japan’s fertility rate, which has reached a record low of 1.2 children per woman, far below the replacement level of 2.1 required to maintain a stable population. Despite government efforts to encourage young people to start families, only 727,277 births were recorded in Japan last year, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.

Governor Koike also unveiled another policy aimed at parents with children in elementary schools, allowing them to trade part of their salaries for the option to leave work early. “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,” she stated.

Japan’s demanding overtime work culture has long been a barrier for women balancing careers and family life. The country’s gender gap in labor force participation remains significant, with 55% of women and 72% of men participating in the workforce last year, according to the World Bank.

The four-day workweek is expected to give government employees more time to dedicate to family life. Global trials of a four-day workweek conducted by the nonprofit 4 Day Week Global in 2022 showed promising results. Over 90% of participating employees expressed a desire to continue the shorter workweek, reporting improved physical and mental health, better work-life balance, and increased life satisfaction. Stress, burnout, fatigue, and work-family conflict all decreased, with participants rating the experience 9.1 out of 10.

Elsewhere in Asia, Singapore recently introduced guidelines encouraging companies to consider flexible working arrangements, including four-day workweeks and staggered hours, showcasing a growing interest in alternative work structures across the region.