Japanese society’s support is crucial for fathers to embrace childcare

In Japan, women still bear most of the burden of child care, which hinders the realization of gender equality. In the first place, both men and women can take child care leave in Japan legally. You can take a rest for childcare until the day before your child turns one year old, and you can extend it up to 2 years old if there is a valid reason, such as not being able to find a nursery center for your child.

However, according to the Basic Survey on Equal Employment by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the percentage of women taking childcare leave is about 80%, while the percentage of men taking childcare leave is still 12.65% (even though it is on the rise). That is due to an atmosphere in the workplace that makes it difficult to take advantage of the childcare leave system, as well as a lack of understanding by the company and superiors regarding the need for employees to take childcare leave. According to the survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in October 2020, 26.2% of men who attempted to use childcare-related systems at their place of work in the past five years said they had experienced “paternity harassment,” or harassment for reasons such as childcare leave.

Creating an environment where men can take childcare leave is essential in promoting gender equality.

Companies will have to confirm workers’ intention to take childcare leave

In response to this situation, the Child Care and Family Care Leave Law was revised in June 2021. It has added content to improve the employment environment to encourage male employees to take childcare leave, regardless of whether they are small, medium, or large enterprises. For instance, from April 2022, workers who report pregnancy or childbirth will be required to be informed of the system individually and to confirm their intention to take leave. If a company fails to do so, the company’s name will be made public.

In addition, companies with more than 1,000 employees will be required to publicize the status of their male employees who have taken childcare leave, so it is expected that the status of male employees who have taken childcare leave will become a part of their social reputation. Other new measures include making it easier for fixed-term employees to take childcare leave, a system that allows fathers to take up to four weeks of leave in two installments within eight weeks after the birth of their child, and a system that allows workers to work within the range agreed upon by them during the leave.

“Iku-men Company Award” and “Iku-boss Company Award”

In addition, as part of the project to encourage male employees to take childcare leave, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare implemented the “Iku-men Company Award” and the “Iku-boss Company Award” to recognize individuals and companies that balance childcare and work. (“Iku” means “to raise,” as in raise a child.)  Giken Seisakusho Co. Ltd. which received the “Iku-men Company Award” in 2020, has built a benefit simulation tool to improve employees’ income concerns when taking maternity leave so that changes in income can be monitored.

Sekisui House, which also won that award, has already achieved 100% of its employees taking at least one month of maternity leave. They require employees to discuss the timing of taking childcare leave with their families at least three months before taking it. The company will also be required to submit a written plan for taking leave one month in advance to ensure that the leave will be taken. In addition, Sekisui House provides a “family meeting sheet” to promote communication within the family regarding childcare leave. As a result, communication between the workplace and the family has been revitalized, and its reputation outside the company has improved.

In 2021, when the Child Care and Family Care Leave Law was amended, the award was canceled to intensively disseminate information on what companies and workers should do with the amendment. There is no announcement yet as to whether it will be implemented in 2022.

“Thank You Dad Project”

In addition, the NPO Fathering Japan has a project called the “Thank You Dad Project,” which supports fathers taking childcare leave and creates a community for fathers to share their worries and joys about childcare with and receive advice from other fathers. From the field of Corporate Children Responsibility, they conduct seminars for companies to deepen their understanding of male parental leave and also make policy recommendations to the government.

Awareness that childcare should be done by society as a whole leads to gender equality

Japan’s male parental leave system itself is highly regarded worldwide. According to a 2019 UNICEF survey of the period of paid parental leave available to fathers, Japan was ranked first among the 41 countries that are members of either the OECD or the EU. It is hoped that this legal reform will help more people recognize that childcare is not a one-person job but is something that society should do as a whole.