It is hoped that an environment will be created in which both men and women can actively take part in child-rearing, as this could also help put the brakes on the nation's seriously low birthrate.
The government has set the target of raising the percentage of male workers who take paternity leave to 30% by 2025, a considerable increase from the previous goal of 13% by 2020.
The percentage stood at only 6% in fiscal 2018. The government should make sure to implement measures to encourage more men to use the leave.
The Child Care and Family Care Leave Law stipulates that, in principle, workers who are raising children up to age 1 can take childcare leave. During a leave of absence, they are paid up to 67% of their monthly salary by the employment insurance system.
According to a recent survey by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry on male regular employees with young children, about 20% of respondents said they could not take paternity leave even though they had wanted to.
Many such respondents cited the atmosphere of workplaces where it can be difficult to take childcare leave, as well as the lack of understanding on the side of their supervisors. A number of respondents also said their employers had failed to establish adequate systems.
According to the ministry, about 70% of men who took paternity leave actually did so for less than two weeks. There are quite a few who do not use the system but instead take paid holidays to help with child-rearing and housework.
It is necessary to change the awareness of companies and society so that male employees can use the leave system without hesitation. It is important for the government to introduce the cases of companies that are implementing pioneering measures to promote understanding among business operators and others.
The ministry will expand subsidies to up to 840,000 yen for companies that have male employees who take paternity leave. As small and midsize companies are struggling with labor shortages, the ministry will also help them secure substitute workers, among other issues. This subsidy measure should be made widely known.
With an increase in the number of nuclear families and double-income households, fathers have a bigger role to play.
Postpartum women are prone to emotional ups and downs, caused mainly by lack of sleep. They also become more anxious about child-rearing when they take care of babies who can't stop crying.
Fathers can share the responsibility of this around-the-clock child-rearing through feeding, changing diapers and other care. They can also take on the duty to take their older children to nursery schools and pick them up, while also playing with them. These actions can help reduce the physical and mental burden the mothers feel.
According to one survey, the more time the male partner spends doing housework and taking care of children, the more likely it is that the couple has a second child or more. This result may indicate that such couples take a positive view on child-rearing.
Since the birth of his son, Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced that he will secure time for taking care of him. As there is no childcare leave system for Diet members, the minister will take steps including shortening his working hours and telecommuting.
It is significant for a Cabinet member to devise ways on his working style to raise his child. It is important to build this momentum in society as a whole.
-- This article appeared in the print version of The Yomiuri Shimbun on Feb. 3, 2020.
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