IT Firms Expanding Childcare Support Programs

To stem the nation's rapidly declining birthrate, on April 1, 2005 the Japanese government put into force a new law known as the Next Generation Law, which obliges companies to devise action plans to support employees who are caring for their children. With the Revised Law of Child Care and Family Care also entering into force on the same day, major information technology companies are bolstering their internal programs for employees.

NEC Corp. announced on March 8, 2005 that it will improve the childcare support system for its employees. Under the new system, which will take effect in July 2005, the company will reimburse employees' moving expenses for cases in which work requires an employee to move in with or nearer to parents in order to share childcare duties, or to move to an area where child daycare is available for longer hours. Additionally, if an employee uses a Family Support Center run by the local government, the company will subsidize half the cost, or 300 yen (about U.S.$2.80) per hour. Furthermore, the company will support telecommuting employees by providing a broadband Internet line and a laptop computer free of charge.

On April 1, 2005, Sony Corp. started allowing all employees who care for children to telecommute full-time, regardless of gender or position. On the same day, Fujitsu Ltd. extended the period of childcare leaves from one year to one year and a half.

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/general/seido/koyou/ryouritu/english/e1.html

Posted: 2005/06/13 10:02:11 AM
Japanese version