Tokyo Announces 4 Day Work Week to Boost Birth Rate
Tokyo introduces a 4-day workweek for government employees to tackle Japan's declining birth rate by encouraging more family time.
In an effort to tackle Japan's declining birth rate, the Tokyo government has announced a new initiative: a 4-day workweek for all government employees starting in April 2025. This move, revealed by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, aims to help couples spend more time together and encourage them to have children.
Japan is currently facing a serious crisis—its fertility rate is at an all-time low. According to reports from the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry, Japan recorded only around 727,000 births in 2024, a significant drop. The country’s overtime work culture is one of the main reasons for this decline, especially affecting women, who often face the tough decision of choosing between a career or having a family. The Tokyo government believes that by introducing a 4-day workweek, more people will be able to balance their work and personal lives better, which could lead to an increase in the number of children being born.
Additionally, the Tokyo government has announced a provision that allows parents of young children to trade some of their salary for the option to leave work earlier. Governor Koike emphasized that this flexibility will ensure that no one has to choose between career and family responsibilities. She stated, "This is a difficult time for Japan. Tokyo must take the initiative to safeguard and improve the lives, livelihoods, and economy of our people."
Japan is not the only country facing a crisis due to a declining birth rate. Russia is also experiencing a drop in its fertility rate. In the first half of 2024, only 599,600 children were born in Russia, which is the lowest number since 1999. Along with the declining birth rate, the death rate in Russia has been rising, partly due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. In response to this, Russian President Vladimir Putin has made an unusual suggestion—urging people to use their lunch and coffee breaks to have sex, in hopes of increasing the birth rate.
However, South Korea is the most affected country when it comes to low fertility. With the lowest fertility rate in the world, South Korea’s birth rate has dropped even further in 2024. Data from Statistics Korea shows an 8% decline in the country’s fertility rate compared to 2023. Experts fear that if this trend continues, South Korea’s population could decline by a third by the end of the century. The main reasons for this crisis are high living costs and a declining quality of life, which have left many couples frustrated.
In response, South Korea is considering offering a cash reward of 100 million won to parents for each child they have. However, the government is currently conducting a public survey to assess public opinion before finalizing this plan. This proposal could cost nearly half of the country’s national budget for addressing low birth rates. Currently, South Korea offers around 35-50 million won in various incentives and support programs for parents from birth until their child turns 7.
Apart from financial incentives, South Korea is also considering more creative solutions to boost the birth rate. One such idea is to encourage opposite-gender students to live together and have girls start school a year earlier than boys. The hope is that this might lead to stronger relationships and, eventually, lifelong commitments, encouraging more marriages and children.
As countries like Japan, Russia, and South Korea struggle with the issue of low birth rates, these measures highlight the importance of finding solutions that not only address economic concerns but also improve the quality of life for families. Only time will tell whether these bold strategies will succeed in reversing the trend of declining fertility rates.
