500 Million Won Childbirth Congratulatory Money, 8-Week Prenatal Paternity Leave... Japanese Companies All-In on Low Birthrate Measures

Japan's Births Fall Below 800,000 Last Year
Business Sector Also Supports Government Measures

According to a report by the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 8th, major Japanese companies are establishing various childcare systems in line with the government’s low birthrate measures, such as a 5 million yen childbirth congratulatory allowance and prenatal leave allowing fathers to take a week off. As Japan’s number of births fell below 800,000 for the first time since 1899 last year, the business community has also rolled up its sleeves to address the serious low birthrate issue.

[Image source=Pixabay]

According to the report, cosmetics company Kao has introduced a paid childcare leave system that can be used for 10 days this year and plans to implement shortened working hours. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance will introduce a “Papa Prenatal Leave” (tentative name) from next year, allowing male employees to take leave starting eight weeks before their spouse’s expected delivery date.

Previously, male employees had to use annual paid leave before their spouse gave birth, but a separate prenatal leave system allowing about a week off was created to encourage men to actively participate in childcare and housework.

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance has launched an unprecedented system that pays a “support allowance” to colleagues of employees on childcare leave to encourage the use of childcare leave. The maximum amount is 100,000 yen (about 1 million won). JR Kyushu plans to increase the childbirth congratulatory allowance from 10,000 yen (about 100,000 won) to a maximum of 500,000 yen (about 5 million won) starting April next year so that employees do not hesitate to have children for economic reasons.

Earlier, Itochu Corporation, which allowed early morning shifts and restricted work after 8 p.m., saw its employees’ birthrate rise to 1.97, demonstrating the effectiveness of labor system reforms.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.