The labor ministry is considering rewarding small and medium-sized companies with subsidies of up to ¥600,000 ($4,997) for achieving numerical and other targets for women's participation in the workforce, sources said Thursday.
Under the draft plan, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare would give ¥300,000 each to companies that have achieved their numerical goals.
Although details have yet to be worked out, companies would receive such subsidies if they achieve preset targets for the number of women in managerial positions, and of employees taking parental leave, the sources said.
For small and medium-sized companies with up to 300 employees, the ministry is considering paying another ¥300,000 if they achieve non-numerical targets, such as offering training courses to expand women's employment options, according to the sources.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said he will raise the proportion of women in leadership positions and create a society that gives them equal opportunities in the workforce.
The government is seeking passage by the end of the current Diet session of a bill that obliges large companies with more than 300 employees to set and publicize numerical targets for promoting women's participation. Smaller companies are not obliged to set such targets.
After the Diet passes the bill, the labor ministry is expected to detail the subsidy program in a ministry ordinance, according to the sources. The legislation will be valid until fiscal 2025.