Tokyo implements four-day workweek to boost record low fertility rates
The measure impacts Tokyo Metropolitan Government employees
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The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced that starting in April, it will be introducing a four-day workweek for government employees, in a bid to boost fertility rates, which are at an all-time low.
On December 4, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike announced the policy and explained that it was being introduced so that people wouldn’t have to choose between having children and a career. In line with this, the government has also introduced a policy that will give employees with children in grades one to three the option to have a more flexible working policy.
Japan’s fertility rate has been falling for several years, and reached a record low in June 2024. With only 727,277 births recorded in 2023, the country now officially has a population crisis. This has been attributed to an increased cost of living, a demanding work culture, and, in particular, long working hours that make raising children and having a career increasingly difficult.
But Japan isn’t the only country facing a population crisis. It's projected that by 2050 the populations of 61 countries or areas will decrease by at least 1%, largely due to low fertility and high emigration rates. Curious? Check out this gallery to find out if your country is in the 'top' 20 when it comes to decreasing populations.
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