A group of female central government bureaucrats with children has called for an improvement in working conditions, including an end to notoriously long hours, to bring about a better work-life balance.
The move comes at a time when the administration led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe aims to help more women pursue careers and work outside the home, as a strategy to spur economic growth.
The midcareer female bureaucrats have decided to submit to the government a set of recommendations to change their working conditions, including abolishing unnecessary meetings and documents, while giving officials the option to telecommute.