Record 16% of fathers in Japan's civil service took child care leave in 2019
The health ministry reported the highest ratio among eligible male staff at 59.2%, while the Defense Ministry and the Imperial Household Agency recorded figures of just over 5%.
Although Japan leads the world in paid-leave provisions for fathers, according to U.N. Children's Fund data, only 7.48% took child care leave in fiscal 2019.
Men have tended to be reluctant to take child care leave, due to uncertainties about their income and pressure from their workplace.
Nearly all of Japan's new fathers in public service plan paternity leave
"We're hopeful that the plans will actually be put into action," an official at the Cabinet Bureau of Personnel Affairs said.
Most Japan bureaucrats taking paternity leave to be off for month
The release of the data follows the start of an initiative to have managers in central government create child care leave plans for their male subordinates.
Swedish ambassador to Japan offers hints on making the best of paternity leave
Pereric Hoegberg wants Japanese fathers to take a more active role in parenting.
A private panel advising the government is also calling for creating an environment where all new fathers can take paternity leave.
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