TOKYO: Some local governments in Japan are introducing or testing a selective four-day workweek to secure talent amid the diversification of lifestyles.

Under the scheme, workers can take a day off on weekdays by extending daily working hours. In most cases, it covers all employees, instead of being limited to those raising children or taking care of the elderly.

Ibaraki Prefecture adopted a selective four-day workweek in April for all employees, excluding teachers and those on shift work.

The prefecture expects the system to be used by those who need to transport family members to schools or hospitals, and those who engage in reskilling.

“We want to create a workplace that can serve as a model for new ways of working,” Ibaraki Governor OIGAWA Kazuhiko said.

Chiba Prefecture plans to introduce a selective four-day workweek in June for all workers at policy-related departments.

“We hope the system will lead to flexible working styles to realize a variety of lifestyles,” said an official at the Chiba prefectural government’s personnel affairs division.

Both schemes in Ibaraki and Chiba allow users to take a day other than weekends off while increasing the hours of working days, so as not to change the total working hours per week or a four-week span under a flextime system.

The moves are aimed at securing a talented workforce and preventing turnover by making it easier to balance work and personal life. The two prefectures also hope that the schemes will be used by workers to improve their skills.

The city of Kuji in Iwate Prefecture plans to launch a four-day workweek scheme in May on a trial basis, ahead of its formal introduction in fiscal 2025.

The city government saw the number of applicants for its fiscal 2023 employment examination nearly halve from the previous year.

“We want many people to want to work for the city” by introducing the scheme, a city official said.

Some local government officials have voiced concerns over a selective four-day workweek system.

They say “some local governments may not be able to get work done depending on their size,” while others say “burdens will increase as a result of longer workdays, lowering work efficiency.”

Akita Governor SATAKE Norihisa said in March that introducing a selective four-day workweek is not easy because “the current amount of work will not decrease.” The prefectural government will first focus on getting employees to use paid leave more, he said.

JIJI Press