On Dec. 20, an advisory panel assembled by the Prime Minister's Office drafted a final proposal for a bill that has a long-term goal of increasing the country's sagging birthrate.
The bill's short-term goal is to promote "marriage activities" among employees of companies and other organizations. One of these activities is a "system that allows local governments to acknowledge and award" good results in promoting marriage at work places. One aspect of this system financially supports local governments in encouraging employers to designate "marriage mentors," meaning married staff or outside consultants who can give advice to single employees on how to find mates. According to an article in the Huffington Post by Yuriko Izumiya, women's groups don't like the bill, but they especially object to the mentor idea, believing it would give companies license to "harass unmarried employees."
Under pressure from these groups, the panel agreed to remove the "mentor" idea from the bill, but otherwise it will be submitted for approval sometime in the next three months.