• UGI USER
  • Apr 11, 2024
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“EMPOWERING WOMEN: LESSONS FROM JAPAN’S ‘WOMENOMICS’ REFORMS”

Syllabus:

  • GS-1-Women and their role in development and related issues of women
  • GS-3 – Women issues

Focus:

  • The LFPR of women is decreasing and certain urgent actions are needed to cope up with the issue and achieve SDG of gender equality . This article deals with the exemplary case study of Japan.
Source- UN

Introduction:

  • Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s commitment to gender equality in
  • Japan in 2014 initiated significant reforms known as “womenomics” as part of the “Abenomics” era.
  • These reforms aimed to address falling fertility rates, a declining population, and stagnant growth by promoting women’s participation in the workforce.

Impact of Reforms:

  • Women’s labor force participation rate (WLFPR) in Japan increased by ten percentage points from 2013 to 2023, reaching 75.2%.
  • This growth in WLFPR, especially among women aged 30-39, indicates the return of mothers to the workforce.
  • Japan added approximately three million women to its workforce, helping to bridge labor shortages and potentially increasing GDP per capita by 4% to 8%.

Investments in Care Economy:

  • The Japanese government invested in expanding daycare capacity from 2.2 million to 2.8 million between 2012 and 2018, reducing daycare waiting lists significantly.
  • In 2023, an additional investment of $265 billion was announced for childcare measures between 2023 and 2026.

Paternity Leave Reforms:

  • Japan introduced greater flexibility in paternity leave provisions in 2022, reducing notice periods and allowing men to break up their leave.
  • Mandatory disclosures of paternity leave uptake, flexible work arrangements, and initiatives to ensure paternity leave does not hinder career progression increased paternity leave uptake from 2% in 2012 to 17% in 2023.

Corporate Diversity Initiatives:

  • The Act on Promotion of Women’s Participation and Advancement in the Workplace mandated disclosures of diversity action plans and diversity data.
  • The introduction of the “Eruboshi” certification recognized companies committed to workforce diversity, leading to a significant increase in certified companies.

Lessons for India:

  • India and Japan share similarities in gender gaps in unpaid care work, emphasizing the importance of addressing domestic and care work inequalities.
  • Long-term investments in care infrastructure and services, changing societal mindsets, and promoting gender-neutral parental leave policies are crucial for increasing women’s workforce participation.
  • India needs to prioritize investments in elder care infrastructure and services, given the expected rise in the elderly population.
Indian government Initiatives :

  • Minimum Wages Act of 1948: Mandates the establishment of minimum wages for workers, including women, in various sectors.
  • Equal Remuneration Act of 1976: Prohibits wage discrimination based on gender, thereby advancing gender equality in employment.
  • Maternity Benefit Act of 1961: Grants maternity leave and other entitlements to female employees in establishments.
  • Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act of 2013: Establishes measures to prevent and address sexual harassment in both public and private workplaces, contributing to gender equality efforts.

Private sector:

  • Zomato offers its employees who become new dads 26 weeks of compensated paternity leave.

Five-Pillar Strategy for India’s Care Economy:

  • Gender-neutral and paternity leave policies
  • Subsidies for availing/providing care services
  • Enhanced investments in care infrastructure and services
  • Skill training for care workers
  • Quality assurance for care services and infrastructure

Conclusion:

  • Japan’s experience with “womenomics” demonstrates the positive impact of gender equality reforms on workforce participation and economic growth.
  • India can learn from Japan’s strategies and prioritize investments in the care economy to unlock business opportunities and achieve sustainable development goals.

Source:Indian Express

Mains Practice Question :

GS-3

Discuss the impact of Japan’s “womenomics” reforms on increasing women’s labor force participation and economic growth, and suggest lessons that India can learn from this experience to promote gender equality and enhance its care economy.(250 words)