DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/kiryoku.v5i1.96-103

Adopting Work-style Reforms, Promoting the Inclusive Workplace: Japan’s Strategies on the Diversifying Labor Market

*Firman Budianto orcid  -  Research Center for Area Studies, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Indonesia
Open Access Copyright (c) 2021 KIRYOKU under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.

Citation Format:
Abstract

As a response to the diversifying labor market, the government of Japan has released a set of policies to foster productivity and increase participation of not only women but also seniors, people with disabilities, and foreigners in the country’s job market. However, the literature on the diversification of Japan’s labor force has paid little attention to the Japanese government’s perspectives on this issue. This qualitative study, therefore, examines the current Japanese government’s strategies in regards with the changing domestic labor market and workplace through critical analyses of the government’s policies and publications. This study observed that the government of Japan has set out to adopt work-style reforms and promote an inclusive workplace for everyone. These two key policies should address the inequality and the work-life balance issues as the core obstacle in Japan’s business practices. This present study suggests that fundamental reforms in the way Japanese people work might pave the way to solving the country’s economic and sociocultural challenges that, to some extent, are rooted in the structural problems in the workplace.

Fulltext View|Download
Keywords: Diversification of labor market; Inclusive workplace; Japan’s labor market; Work-style reforms

Article Metrics:

Article Info
Section: Articles
Language : EN
Recent articles
Imigran dan Warga Keturunan Jepang di Amerika Serikat: Sentimen-Sentimen Terhadapnya Dulu dan Kini Noda Interpropositional Modality Refleksi Isu Sosial Di Jepang Dalam Empat Karya Fiksi: Hiyama Kentarou No Ninshin, Sanju Mariko, Sensei No Kaban, Dan Death Sweeper More recent articles
Most cited articles
Verba Kompon Hajimeru, Dasu, Dan Kakeru Sebagai Penanda Aspek Inkoatif Bahasa Jepang More cited articles
  1. Asao, Y. (2011). Overview of Non-regular Employment in Japan. Retrieved from https://www.jil.go.jp/english/reports/documents/jilpt-reports/no.10_japan.pdf
  2. CNBC. (2018, December 12). Japan opens the door to more foreigners. That may not solve its labor woes. Retrieved January 26, 2019, from CNBC website: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/13/japan-economy-labor-shortage-shinzo-abe-bets-on-foreigner-workers.html
  3. Gender Equality Bureau of Japan. (2017). Gender Equality Policy in Japan. Retrieved from https://www.gender.go.jp/international/int_kaigi/int_acw3/pdf/contry_presentation_japan_09.pdf
  4. JapanGov. (2019). Abenomics: For future growth, for future generations, and for a future Japan. Retrieved March 17, 2019, from https://www.japan.go.jp/abenomics/_userdata/abenomics/pdf/1901_abenomics.pdf
  5. Kameda, N. (2013). Japanese Global Companies: The Shift from Multinationals to Multiculturals. Global Advances in Business Communication, 2(1), 1–18
  6. Keidanren. (2017). Charter of Corporate Behavior. Retrieved from http://www.keidanren.or.jp/en/policy/csr/charter2017.pdf
  7. Liu-Farrer, G. (2011). Making Careers in the Occupational Niche: Chinese Students in Corporate Japan’s Transnational Business. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 37(5), 785–803. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2011.559718
  8. MHLW. (2018). Japan’s Labor Market (1990-2018)
  9. Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan. (2017). Hatarakujosei no jōkyō (Situation of working women). Retrieved from https://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/koyoukintou/josei-jitsujo/dl/17b.pdf
  10. MOJ. (2018). Points-based System for Highly-Skilled Foreign Professionals. Retrieved July 23, 2018, from http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_3/en/system/index.html
  11. Moriya, T. (2012). Nihon kigyō no ryūgakusē nado no gaikokujin saiyō he no kōsatsu (Investigation of the recruitment of international students into Japanese firms). Japanese Labor Studies, 623, 29–36
  12. Nagatomo, J. (2014). Migration As Transnational Leisure: The Japanese Lifestyle Migrants in Australia. Brill
  13. Nakamura, J. (2010). Impacts of International Migration on the Labor Market in Japan. Japan Labor Review, 7(3), 68–85
  14. Nikkei Asian Review. (2018). Japan approves 126 measures to attract more foreign workers. Retrieved December 26, 2018, from Nikkei Asian Review website: https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Japan-Immigration/Japan-approves-126-measures-to-attract-more-foreign-workers
  15. Oishi, N. (2012). The Limits of Immigration Policies: The Challenges of Highly Skilled Migration in Japan. American Behavioral Scientist. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764212441787
  16. Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet. (2016). The Japan’s Plan for Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens. Retrieved from https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/ichiokusoukatsuyaku/pdf/plan2.pdf
  17. Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet. (2018). Mirai Tōshi Senryaku 2018 (Future Investment Strategy 2018). Tokyo: Cabinet Office
  18. The Associated Press. (2018, December 8). Japan Japan OKs divisive bill allowing more foreign workers. Retrieved January 26, 2019, from The Associated Press website: https://www.apnews.com/f312b64eeaf2402d8f85733c35ce41bc
  19. The Wall Street Journal. (2018). Japan to Accept More Foreign Workers in a Break From Its Historical Stance. Retrieved January 26, 2019, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/japan-to-accept-more-foreign-workers-in-a-break-from-its-historical-stance-1544215014

Last update:

No citation recorded.

Last update: 2024-11-20 07:00:49

No citation recorded.