Japanese women lag in boardrooms, politics--report

By Staff
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TOKYO, June 19 (Reuters) - Japanese women have less clout in companies and politics than women in other advanced countries, the government said in a report that highlighted the need for steps to help women balance jobs and their personal lives.

Economists argue women are among the most under-utilised groups in Japan's labour force, so boosting their participation could help offset the impact of an ageing and shrinking population and support growth.

According to the gender equality white paper for the year ended March 31, released today, 9.4 per cent of lawmakers in Japan were women compared with 16.2 per cent for the United States and 31.6 per cent in Germany.

In the corporate world, women held just 10.1 per cent of managerial posts, well below 42.5 per cent in the United States and 37.3 in Germany.

Japan enacted the Equal Employment Opportunity Law in 1985, but female executives have remained rare as many women opt out of careers once they have children, daunted by the challenges of juggling long working hours and housework.

Spouses are also often bogged down by late-night meetings and long working hours, leaving them little time to help with childcare and housework.

An official at the Cabinet Office, which compiled the report, said the government was considering steps such as incentives for companies that allow employees to devote more time to families.

Changes to Japan's corporate culture would help not only women, but also a growing number of men who were fed up with spending long nights at the office, she said.

''Compared to other countries, more men in Japan think the man should work and that the woman should stay in the home, but that thinking is changing among young people ... There needs to be structural changes to how people work,'' she said.

Men in Japan did just 12.5 per cent of housework and caring for children, slightly higher than the figure for South Korea but much less than in Western countries, the report showed.

More than a third of Japanese women quit their jobs for marriage and switch to part-time work, while half of those who return to work after maternity leave see their salaries drop more than 50 per cent, according to separate government data.

''Men want to hold on to their authority, while women are not being taught to assert themselves or have self-confidence,'' said Chieko Kanatani, head of Women and Work Research Center, a non-profit organisation.

''Rather than incentives like giving women more maternity leave, companies should outline clear career paths for women early on in their careers.'' REUTERS JK VV1536

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