News Tokyo government implements optional 4-day workweek in April 2025

Tokyo Governor Koike announced on Tuesday plans to introduce a system allowing metropolitan government employees to take three days off per week. During the opening of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly's fourth regular session in 2024, she emphasized the importance of adapting work styles flexibly to ensure that no one has to sacrifice their career due to life events such as childbirth or childcare.

Currently, the metro government operates on a schedule of 155 hours over four weeks, with a flex-time system enabling many employees to choose their starting and ending times. Under the current arrangement, employees can take one weekday off within four weeks. Starting in the next fiscal year, April 2025, this will be revised to allow one weekday off per week.

In her policy statement, Koike announced the start of a project to promote women's participation called "Women in Action," one part of which will be the introduction of a partial vacation system for parents of children in first to third grades of elementary school. The Tokyo government is also eyeing the passing of ordinances to promote women's participation.

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Chiba Prefecture introduced the four-day workweek for all its employees in June.

I think it's a great idea working 5 days a week never did make sense to me.