Tokyo introduces four-day workweek for city employees to boost birthrate

Tokyo will introduce a four-day workweek for city employees starting in April 2025. This initiative aims to encourage young couples to have children amid Japan's declining birthrate, which has hit a record low for 16 years. Additionally, parents with elementary-aged children can leave work early for a pay cut. These policies are part of broader efforts to address Japan's fertility crisis, where the birth rate fell to 1.2 children per woman in 2023. Japan has previously implemented various measures to boost birth rates, including cash incentives and tax breaks. The new workweek policy reflects a shift towards more flexible work arrangements to support families.