Childcare is father's job as much as it is mother's
Updated: 2016-03-22 07:48
By Cai Hong(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
The fact is taking paternity leave in Japan is difficult given the brutal work culture in the country. Japanese companies follow the "lifetime employment" model, which one Japanese economist termed a "gentleman's agreement" under which employees generally stay with one company while, in exchange, the company grants them lifelong employment. This system imposes unwritten "penalty (on)…a worker taking time off to care for…children", because by staying away from work workers could miss out on the time they need to sharpen or build their "firm-specific skills".
One in four Japanese companies want woman employees to quit their jobs after having a child, rather than taking childcare leave. And about 70 percent of Japanese women have quit their jobs after giving birth to their first child. Most of these women do not seek re-employment for years, with some never doing so.
Only 34 percent of Japanese women with children below 6 years of age work, compared with 76 percent in Sweden, 61 percent in the United States, 55 percent in the United Kingdom and 53 percent in Germany.
An increasing number of Japanese fathers want to help their wives in taking care of their children, especially if their wives decide to keep working after giving birth. But they would not dare be the first to apply for leave to spend more time with their families or take care of their children.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's pledge to increase childcare facilities is a step in the right direction. But change has been slow in coming.
Only when men dare to take leave to look after their children and attend to household chores can women get the chance to move up the career ladder.
The author is China Daily Tokyo bureau chief. caihong@chinadaily.com.cn
- 'Superdads' on paternity leave break with tradition
- South Korean 'superdads' on paternity leave break with tradition
- Should men get paternity leave?
- Board backs 3-day paternity leave
- Paid paternity leave law for men 'a need'
- Paternity leave makes social and economic sense
- Paternity leave a responsibility
- Global health entering new era: WHO chief
- Brazil's planning minister steps aside after recordings revelation
- Vietnam, US adopt joint statement on advancing comprehensive partnership
- European border closures 'inhumane': UN refugee agency
- Japan's foreign minister calls A-bombings extremely regrettable
- Fukushima impact unprecedented for oceans: US expert
- Stars of Lijiang River: Elderly brothers with white beards
- Wealthy Chinese children paying money to learn British manners
- Military-style wedding: Fighter jets, grooms in dashing uniforms
- Striking photos around the world: May 16 - May 22
- Robots help elderly in nursing home in east China
- Hanging in the air: Chongqing holds rescue drill
- 2.1-ton tofu finishes in two hours in central China
- Six things you may not know about Grain Buds
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |