Monthly Friday off work fails to give hoped for results

The initiative was launched with great clamor in February 2017. It aimed to help the Japanese work less, to consume more, to have children. But small businesses can not afford to give the staff extra free time. Workers choose to save. According to experts, more incisive policies needed to support maternity.

Tokyo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - "Premium Friday" was the latest attempt by the Japanese government to address a problem: the consumption crisis due to time shortages and excessive workload in companies.

But the initiative launched with great clamor in February 2017 is already losing interest. In fact, small businesses realize that they can not afford to give extra time to staff and workers choose to save their money and rest rather than fuel consumption.

The Japanese government's intentions was that the Premium Friday would improve the balance in the citizen’s private life, reducing stress linked to a work overload. At the same time, the bureaucrats hoped that a free Friday per month would encourage the population to increase purchases, dine outside, drink and socialize more. A theory that had even begun to hypothesize an increase in the birth rate.

But six months after the launch, the Premium Friday is not giving any results.

"The concept is positive, but a couple of hours out on Friday once a month can not be enough to achieve the grand plans the government has set," says Makoto Watanabe, associate professor of communications and media at the University of Hokkaido Bunkyo. "To achieve an appreciable effect, much more incisive public reforms are needed that may have an impact on working life styles." "Among the most needed reforms for Japan are measures to support maternity, allowing women to build their own career at the same time as having children," the professor added.

"And the situation is probably worse in rural areas of Japan or in smaller cities," Watanabe said, "where regional economies are unable to grow at the same pace as cities and where young people and couples choose to save the their money for the future rather than spend them on the Premium Friday. " "The economy is weak, wages have not increased significantly over the last decade, and in many cases, people are worried about job retention, so are careful with their spending," he concluded.

After an initial enthusiasm for the Premium Friday, retailers say spending has returned to previous levels. Store owners do not see significant and prolonged spending, although restaurants and bars say they have more customers.

According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, more than 500 companies have signed up for the initiative and are actively encouraging their employees. But big companies can absorb a temporary lack of staff, but small businesses are not able to give employees more freedom.

Yet there are those who argue that it is good to insist on this plan. "I think companies are assimilating the initiative, albeit under strong government pressure," said Martin Schulz, senior economist at the Fujitsu Research Institute. "I think it will take a long time before attitudes towards work and traditions in the workplace change completely, but it may take place."

• Japan
• economy
• work
• premium friday
• demographics
• fatigue
• suicide
• overwork