There are long hours of labor as a representative social problem of Japan. The occurrence of overworking death accident at Dentsu, Japan's largest advertising agency, has become a big topic. In addition, efforts called "work way reform" promoted by the government in recent years are receiving great attention. The working hours in Japan are very long in the world, and many people have died from overwork. Suicide rate is also very high, especially suicide rate of young people is top. Despite this long working hours, Japan's labor productivity is the lowest level among developed countries. For example, the gross domestic product (GDP) per citizen of Japan and France is almost the same, but the average working hours in France is 3/4 of Japan. In Japan, long-term labor becomes normal, health damage becomes serious, economic growth power declines and international competitiveness is losing.
I argue that working hours should be reduced to improve such unhealthy situations. There are many reports that workers' health and productivity has improved by introducing short-time work. In several Swedish cities, policy to obligate short-time work were conducted experimentally. The policy oblige work hours to 6 hours a day, 30 hours a week or less. As a result of introducing the policy, a report that "Absenteeism has been greatly reduced, productivity and worker's health has improved" was made in April of last year. As a concrete example, at Sareglenska University Hospital in Goshenberg City, which is one of the cities where policy were introduced, when working hours were changed to 6 hours a day and newly hired 15 staff, sickness almost disappeared , work efficiency has also improved. In addition, at Toyota Service Center which was referred to as a model for reduction of working hours at this hospital, they have started introducing short-time work for 13 years ago. Despite the fact that working hours have been shortened by two hours, it is reported that labor outcomes have been improved more than before. Long hours work places a heavy burden on workers and is not preferable for productivity. I think that labor resources are required to be used sustainably as natural resources. I hope that short-time labor will be introduced to Japan as soon as possible.
I argue that working hours should be reduced to improve such unhealthy situations. There are many reports that workers' health and productivity has improved by introducing short-time work. In several Swedish cities, policy to obligate short-time work were conducted experimentally. The policy oblige work hours to 6 hours a day, 30 hours a week or less. As a result of introducing the policy, a report that "Absenteeism has been greatly reduced, productivity and worker's health has improved" was made in April of last year. As a concrete example, at Sareglenska University Hospital in Goshenberg City, which is one of the cities where policy were introduced, when working hours were changed to 6 hours a day and newly hired 15 staff, sickness almost disappeared , work efficiency has also improved. In addition, at Toyota Service Center which was referred to as a model for reduction of working hours at this hospital, they have started introducing short-time work for 13 years ago. Despite the fact that working hours have been shortened by two hours, it is reported that labor outcomes have been improved more than before. Long hours work places a heavy burden on workers and is not preferable for productivity. I think that labor resources are required to be used sustainably as natural resources. I hope that short-time labor will be introduced to Japan as soon as possible.