Government and Industry Leaders Tackle Japan's Declining Birthrate

The Japanese government held the first meeting of the "Government and Industry Leaders' Panel on Support for Child Raising" with leaders of business and labor organizations on May 10, 2005. The panel was set up with the aim of easing the pressures of child rearing on company employees, in order to help restore the nation's declining birthrate.

Among the participants from government were the Chief Cabinet Secretary and the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, and leaders from industry included the chairmen of the Japan Business Federation, the head of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and others. They shared their views on joint efforts regarding measures to support child rearing. At the meeting, the government was requested to provide financial support, while the business sector was urged to raise awareness of this issue among business owners.

In April 2005, the government's Law for Measures to Support the Development of the Next Generation entered into force. This law requires business owners with over 300 employees to formulate and file action plans, for example, to increase the ratio of parents taking long-term childcare leave, to promote shorter working hours for parents raising children, and to enhance reemployment for women who wish to return to work later. However, only 36.2 percent of companies had filed their plans as of April, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

The next meeting is scheduled for the autumn of 2005.



Posted: 2005/09/07 03:30:58 PM
Japanese version