Tokyo’s metropolitan government is planning to introduce a four-day workweek starting April next year as part of a push for work-style reform, reports the Japan Times. Japan’s capital city is joining a growing number of local governments introducing similar measures to improve working conditions amid a labour shortage. 

During a policy speech Tuesday at a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly’s regular session, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike emphasised the importance of flexible work styles, especially for women. 

To help employees balance childcare and work, the government plans to introduce a new “childcare partial leave” system, which allows workers to reduce their working hours by up to two hours a day.