japan punches time clock for premium friday
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Japan punches time clock for 'Premium Friday'

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleJapan punches time clock for 'Premium Friday'

Japan has introduced Premium Friday
Tokyo - Arab Today

Japan's Prime Minister will spend Friday afternoon meditating while staff at some of the country's biggest firms are also quitting work early -- in time for a bit of shopping or maybe a boozy train ride.

Welcome to Premium Friday, Japan's latest bid to tackle two perennial problems -- sluggish consumer spending and notoriously long working hours blamed for a national health crisis known as karoshi, or death from overwork.

The work-life balance campaign, which launches this week, calls on employers to let staff off around 3:00 pm on the last Friday of every month.

Major firms such as automakers Nissan and Toyota, beverage giant Suntory and brokerage Nomura are taking part in the government-backed scheme.

Thousands of other firms are offering promotions to workers who will have a bit of extra time on Fridays.

Mobile carrier SoftBank is letting staff quit early and, later this year, will be putting an extra 10,000 yen ($90) in their pockets.

One railway operator is offering a special train ride with beer and bento boxes, while off-early workers can also get discounts on everything from matchmaking services to cancer checks.

Prime minister Shinzo Abe will be taking it down a notch by spending the afternoon at a Zen meditation temple, followed by a music concert.

So says top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga who is also kicking off early -- as soon Friday's press briefing was done.

"Unfortunately I have to hold this press conference at your request," he told reporters in Tokyo.

"But as soon as I'm done with this, I'm going to doing something" for Premium Friday.

- 'Changing our lifestyle' -

Every year, Japan's notoriously long working hours are blamed for hundreds of deaths due to strokes, heart attacks and suicides, along with a host of serious health problems.

The issue was highlighted again in late December when the head of Japan's biggest advertising agency Dentsu resigned in response to the suicide of a young employee who regularly logged more than 100 hours of overtime a month.

More than one in five Japanese companies have employees who work such long hours they're at serious risk of death, according to a government survey released in October. 

Japan's long working hours spawned the image of the weary salaryman who worked all day, drank with the boss all night, and was back at his desk early in the morning.

That punishing work culture has softened over the decades, but putting in long hours is still seen as a sign of dedication at many Japanese firms.

"We're hoping to boost spending by changing our lifestyle, the way we work and the way we think," Masanao Ueda, director of major business lobby Keidanren's Industrial Policy Bureau, told AFP.

"It's hard for Japanese workers to take a day off so we need to create conditions in which everyone can take a holiday."

But it could be hard sell. 

Many Japanese employees don't even take all of their regular annual leave and firms are not helping with the needed wage hikes.

And only a small fraction of Japan's firms are taking part in the non-mandatory scheme.

"This campaign will not suddenly boost spending or stop long working hours," said Naoko Kuga, analyst at Tokyo's NLI Research Institute.

"It's not even mandatory for workers to leave early."

 

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

japan punches time clock for premium friday japan punches time clock for premium friday

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 17:35 2017 Wednesday ,27 December

Egyptian MP underlines Egypt’s ability

GMT 15:43 2011 Sunday ,15 May

US bid to save Louisiana cities

GMT 12:06 2012 Friday ,04 May

Is there a solution for Sudan?

GMT 07:43 2014 Tuesday ,12 August

Where is Assad on Gaza

GMT 07:44 2017 Tuesday ,07 February

Holding local elections requires dialogue

GMT 10:23 2016 Saturday ,16 January

Jazz parades and glittery parties

GMT 14:45 2017 Thursday ,07 September

NATO on guard ahead of major Russian war games

GMT 23:59 2011 Wednesday ,09 March

Exxon Scores Key Victory In Alaska

GMT 12:13 2011 Friday ,16 December

Beckham Style Icon for Over 50

GMT 13:53 2011 Tuesday ,28 June

De Gea confirms Manchester United offer

GMT 23:07 2012 Tuesday ,31 January

The Kardashian Sisters Topless

GMT 08:21 2011 Wednesday ,28 December

Modern rocking chair

GMT 00:52 2011 Friday ,25 November

Graffiti as art in order-conscious Singapore

GMT 04:01 2015 Tuesday ,17 February

Qatar national library to host event for children

GMT 10:18 2012 Sunday ,08 January

Mental illness 'rampant' in Somalia

GMT 07:17 2015 Monday ,02 March

Tintin set to go at Paris auctions

GMT 14:27 2017 Monday ,06 February

NATO starts anti-Daesh bomb training in Iraq

GMT 09:06 2016 Wednesday ,26 October

Canada parliament votes to take in Yazidi refugees

GMT 20:28 2017 Monday ,19 June

Deadly wildfires around the world

GMT 04:31 2017 Thursday ,16 February

Tunisian designers look to past for inspiration
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle