The government is planning to revise a law that will allow local public servants to take up to four periods of childcare leave. The bill, which is likely to be passed in the current Diet session, is aimed at encouraging more male employees to take time off work to help care for their offspring.
Currently, local public servants are allowed two periods of childcare leave: once within the first eight weeks of a child being born, and once again before the child turns 3. Under the revised law, both men and women will be allowed four periods of childcare leave, achieved by splitting the two original leave periods.
