Author: Fu Zhuhui
In order to achieve housework equality between men and women. Japan implements postpartum dad parental leave starting this month, requiring men to be "dads" for four weeks. (Internet diagram)
Japanese " double-paid " couples have increased, but the burden of childbirth often falls on women. In order to achieve equality between men and women in housework, Japan began to implement "postpartum dad parental leave" this month, requiring men to be "dads" for four weeks.
In addition, while extending the retirement age, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan also added paid leave for "grandparents' childbirth leave" to labor standards, allowing elderly employees to take leave to hold their grandchildren.
Japan is institutionalizing the promotion of male childbirth. In addition to continuing the original childbirth leave, it also introduced a male maternity leave system to allow companies to give fathers "maternity leave". This new system aims to allow couples to use their vacations flexibly to achieve the effect of jointly raising the next generation.
It is reported that the introduction of this system is also changing Japan's conservative concept of "the male leads to the outside and the female leads to the inside". Originally, I could only see the baby care schedule named "Mom Lecture", but since last month it has been changed to "Mom and Dad Lecture".
21st Century Career Foundation surveyed Japanese men and women of millennial last year, showing that 57.3% of Japanese working women hope to take into account both family and career. The foundation said: "It is necessary to give priority to the parental leave method of wife's occupation, so that more women can be reinstated with peace of mind."
Japanese baby information website "Mamali" believes that it is easy for women to take leave for a child, but most male employees will feel embarrassed to take four weeks of maternity leave in a row.
The wife of Hirano, an office worker, will give birth to a second baby at the end of October. He said: "My wife and I are both at work. Five years ago, when my wife gave birth to her first child, I didn't ask for leave to help at all, but my wife did not have enough rest, which affected her health. This time with the maternity leave system, it would be much easier for me to take leave."
To encourage childbirth, Japan recommends the "raiser" standard and takes pride in raising children. The picture shows a member of the "Training Dad" organization in 2012. (Photo by Fu Zhuhui)
Before the authorities implemented male maternity leave, Japanese candy company Ezaki Gregao had already implemented a "paternity leave" system for male employees. In order to prevent male employees from working from home after maternity leave, employees who take leave are also prohibited from taking their company computers home.
The female chairman Tomoko Hayakawa, who has always supported men and women in family childbirth, said: "If the childbirth desire of male and female employees can be met through childbirth, I believe this will play a positive role in the sustainable development of society and the company."
Japan is in an age of aging, and the authorities are changing the childbirth environment and encouraging people to have more children. In addition, raising the retirement age has also prompted some county towns to create their own "grandfather childbirth leave".
Miyagi Prefecture Governor Kayoshi Murai held his second grandson in September. He brought his baby bottle and brought his grandson to the office and announced that he would implement "grandson parenting leave" from January next year.
He said: "The Labor Act decides to raise the retirement age of employees from 60 to 65 years old, and it is estimated that older employees will increase significantly. Now, there are few families living with grandparents, and grandparents also need to actively participate in raising grandchildren, so that supporting parenting generations becomes the responsibility of the entire society."
