Japan extends female hiring targets to midsize enterprises

A serious labor crunch prompts government to turn to women

20180607N women at work

The government hopes to make it easier for women to work at smaller businesses amid projections of a worsening labor shortage. (Photo by Nobuyoshi Shioda)

Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- As part of its drive to relieve the labor shortage and promote gender equality, Japan is considering a mandate for midsize companies to set numerical targets for hiring women.

Corporations with more than 300 employees already are obliged to draw up action plans for female hiring. Now the government aims to draft legislation by next year that will lower the threshold to 100 workers and put the rule into effect in 2020.

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