Eye on Asia - Asia Observer’s blog

Under pressure from politicians worried about the implications of a declining population, Japan’s big companies have started offering special deals to workers with children in an effort to reverse a dramatic fall in the national birth rate.

A few weeks ago we wrote about the outcry in Japan after health minister Hakuo Yanagisawa referred to women as “birth giving machines”. Look to Scandinavia, we suggested. Scandinavian countries have succeeded in making it possible for women to combine pursuing a career while having small children.

Now there are some good news. Financial Times writes that the electronics giant Matsushita has struck a deal with its unions that most of this year’s pay increase will be spent on special allowances to encourage workers to have children.

It is good news indeed and an important step in the right direction.