[Real Beat] Japan Considers Introducing Civil Service Law Allowing 4-Day Workweek Without Childcare or Caregiving Reasons

by Jeong Hyunjin

Published 13 Apr.2023 17:00(KST)

Updated 13 Apr.2023 20:02(KST)

Editor's Note[Jjinbit] is a shortened form of 'Jeong Hyeonjin's Business Trend' and 'Real Business Trend,' a segment that showcases trends in changes in work.

The Japanese government is reportedly considering a plan to revise the Public Service Act to allow civil servants to work a four-day workweek without needing reasons such as childcare or family care, attracting attention. As the popularity of civil servants, who suffer from long working hours and heavy workloads, has significantly declined, it is interpreted that the Japanese government is taking desperate measures.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida <br>[Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
[Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

On the 13th, Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that the National Personnel Authority of Japan has begun reviewing including such provisions in the National Public Service Act to be released this summer. According to the report, currently, Japanese civil servants can only use the 'flex time system (flexible working hours)' if they have reasons such as childcare or caregiving. This system allows them to take an additional day off besides Saturday and Sunday. However, the weekly working hours are maintained at about 38 hours, so if they take an extra day off, the remaining working hours are extended accordingly.

The plan the Japanese government is reviewing now is to allow civil servants to flexibly use working hours without needing reasons like childcare or caregiving. This would enable them to utilize their free time for activities such as attending graduate school or enjoying hobbies.

Currently, 290,000 civil servants, excluding special positions, can use the flex time system. They can choose this working system depending on their job content. However, usage rates vary greatly by ministry. As of October 2021, some ministries had usage rates exceeding 70%, while certain ministries had no civil servants using this system at all. Nihon Keizai reported that the average usage rate across all ministries was 7.7%.

The reason the Japanese government is suddenly considering introducing a four-day workweek in the civil service sector is to secure manpower. Nihon Keizai reported that the number of applicants for the national civil service exam this spring was about 14,000, the second lowest ever. Over the past 10 years, this number has decreased by about 30%.

Nihon Keizai stated, "Based on the difficulty of securing manpower due to long working hours and other factors, the government is seeking to improve working methods."