The Japanese capital, Tokyo, plans to introduce a four-day working week for government officials starting in April 2025 to boost the birth rate.
This is reported by CNN.
Japan’s population has fallen to a record level. On average, every Japanese woman gives birth to one or two children, and this ratio should be at least 2.1 to maintain the country’s population.
Tokyo authorities are convinced that a four-day workweek will establish a balance between personal life and work for employees, as they will have three days off every week. The level of stress will also decrease, which will increase demographic productivity.
Last year, only 727,277 newborns were registered in Japan. The high cost of living in Japan, limited space, and lack of childcare support in urban areas make raising children difficult, which means fewer couples are choosing to have them.