The measure covers all public employees in the Japanese capital and aims to improve the balance between personal and professional life.
Tokyo will implement a four-day work week for civil servants from April, aiming to improve work-life balance and combat low birth rates in Japan. This measure, announced by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, is part of broader efforts to support working mothers and encourage birth rate.
With the new measure, public employees will have three days off per week. Additionally, a supplementary policy will allow parents of primary school age children (first to third grade) reduce working hours with a small salary adjustment, allowing them to leave early, says .
“Let’s review the Flexible work stylesensuring that no one has to abandon their career due to life events such as the birth of a child or childcare,” said Koike. The governor highlighted the need for Tokyo to lead initiatives to improve citizens’ lives, livelihoods and economies, given the challenging times the country is facing.
Japan faces a critical population crisiswith the fertility rate set to reach an all-time high of 1.2 in 2022, well below the replacement level of 2.1 needed for population stability. The country recorded just 727,277 births last year, prompting the government to implement urgent measures to reverse the trend. Initiatives include encouraging paternity leave and policies to create more favorable work environments.
Japan’s intense work culture is often cited as one of the causes for the declining birth rate and gender disparities in the workforce. The demanding corporate environment often forces women to choose between career and family.
Furthermore, health risks such as “karoshi” (death from overwork), remain a significant concern. According to the World Bank, the gender gap in labor participation in Japan remains evident, with 55% of women working, compared to 72% of men.
While the four-day work week is gaining traction in the West, it remains an unconventional idea in Japan, where long hours are traditionally associated with dedication. However, studies in other countries show that shortened work weeks improve workers’ well-being and productivity, making this change a potentially transformative step for Japan.
Tokyo’s initiative follows similar efforts in Asia, such as Singapore’s new guidelines that encourage flexible working conditionsincluding four-day weeks or adjustable schedules. These policies aim to create more family-friendly work environments and address the broader challenges of low birth rates and aging populations.
