Will more people take childcare leave in Japan after April 2025?

日本語Verは👉こちら

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Thank you for reading 🌸
I work as a HR member at a startup company with about 100 employees.
My goal is to assist people who would like to expand their business in society.
For this goal, I'd like to provide useful information in this Note :)

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In Japan, many laws, such as employment insurance and childcare leave, will change in April.
For 2025, some legal reforms are already scheduled.
Therefore, I have summarized the reasons why many people will take the leave and what companies should do before then.

Reform contents from April 2025

1.increase in childcare leave benefits
if you and your spouse take 14 days or more of childcare leave within 8 weeks after giving birth, the childcare benefits will be increased.
13% will be added to the current 67% of the salary before the leave.
So, you will receive 80% of the salary you were receiving before the leave.

This 80% means that you can get almost same the amount of salary as before you took leave because 15% social security tax and 5-10% of income tax will be deducted from your salary when your working.

it is expected that more people will take childcare leave because their spouse ask them to take the leave for the benefits.

2.benefits for employees with short working hours
if you have a child under 2 years old, and choose to work short working hours, you will receive 10% of your salary as the benefits.

What companies should prepare for 

1.establish a system in which it is normal for everyone to take childcare leave.
As social interest in men's leave increases. it has become commonplace for men to take it, and companies need too  prepare for it as well.

2.show a model case of how  employees take the leave.
I often hear that they are worried about how long the childcare leave should be taken, even if they want to take it.
This is because They are worried about their work during the leave.

I think that women who have given birth will have a difficult time for the next 2-3 months after giving birth, so It's men should stay with their suppose in the period.
it's also effective to show some samples from this period.

Summary

Laws related to childcare leave change almost every year in Japan.
For personnel in companies, it's important to catch up.
So, I'd like to support such people in this note :)

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Thank you for reading to the end !
Please share your comments :)

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