To boost the number of employees taking paternity leave and promote female participation in the workforce, the labor ministry has decided to increase government subsidies for companies whose employees do so, sources close to the matter said Thursday.
The rate of men who take leave for child care is only around 6 percent despite six consecutive years of increase, far from the government's goal of 13 percent by 2020.
Under the current system, companies receive subsidies if they undertake steps to facilitate paternity leave, such as by holding management seminars or getting bosses to encourage subordinates to take leave.