A basic plan to achieve gender equality was endorsed at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday and features the goal of raising the rate at which woman are recruited for the top-level career track in the central government.
The target rate is 30 percent per year by around fiscal 2010, up from 21.5 percent for fiscal 2005.
It includes introducing part-time working hours so central government officials can continue to work while raising children or caring for other family members.
In more general measures, companies will be urged to hire women who earlier quit their jobs to care for children.
To placate conservatives, the plan says the government does not want to deny the idea of "gender distinction" or Japanese cultural traditions, including the Doll's Festival for girls on March 3, in the process of promoting gender equality.
Workplace measures
A government advisory panel recommended Tuesday facilitating maternity leave, banning indirect discrimination and reinforcing measures against sexual harassment to tackle gender discrimination in the workplace.
Based on the proposals by the labor policy panel, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will present a bill to the Diet next year to revise the law guaranteeing equal employment opportunities for both men and women.
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