The government announced last week its plan to launch a new system to support in-house child care centers operated by private companies starting April 2015 on condition that children of those who are not employees are also eligible to enter the centers.

The child care centers will be operated by private companies, but since they will be jointly subsidized together with the central and local governments, children other than those of the company's employees will also be entitled to enroll.

Even though this government initiative comes decades later than it should have, it appears to be a step forward in improving conditions for working parents, which is an urgent priority.