Right now, only about 65% of Japan’s women are working, especially in part-time jobs. The country government expects a similar initiative set to begin next month, with a larger budget of 240 million yen ($2 million) and less stringent criteria. A new legislation approved last month in parliament which takes effect next April, will mandate large companies, as well as the government, to set and disclose numerical targets for hiring and promoting women. This is important because the world’s third-largest economy is on the brink of falling back into recession, and faces a labor shortage and a fast-aging population. Women hold key to fixing Japan;s economy, economic experts say.
