With a low number of men taking paternity leave in Japan, a revised law has taken effect aimed at making child care leave more accessible for fathers and creating a better workplace environment in which they can take it.
The revised Child Care and Family Care Leave Law, which took effect Friday, obliges all companies to inform their employees, including men, of the system and individually confirm with would-be fathers whether they want to take the leave or not.
Japanese law grants both working parents a generous 12 months of parental leave. But in reality, few men actually take it.