As Canada’s fertility rate drops, could a 3-day weekend boost births?
Global News
Tokyo recently announced a four-day workweek policy in an effort to boost Japan’s record-low fertility rate - something that Canada is also struggling with.
The Japanese city of Tokyo is the latest in a growing list of governments and companies to try out a four-day work week, and some experts say Canadian families also stand to benefit from a long weekend every week if implemented in the right way.
Tokyo’s plan, which was announced last week and will roll out next April, is aimed at boosting Japan’s record-low fertility rate — something that Canada is also struggling with — while also giving public employees a more flexible working arrangement.
Canada’s fertility rate, which has been steadily declining, has plunged to a record low and the country is now among the “lowest-low” fertility nations.
But could polices like a four-day work week help encourage more people to have babies?
Carolynn Dubé, executive director with Fertility Matters Canada, said even though there isn’t data backing how effective such a measure could be for boosting a country’s fertility rate, it’s an “interesting” concept to explore as part of a holistic approach to family building.
“Countries really need to have a look at ways to help boost fertility rates … because the economic health of the country is so intimately tied to its fertility rate,” Dubé said.
“I think this speaks to more broadly and what I think for a country like Canada, we can consider is really having broader socioeconomic policies in place to help support family building.”
Tokyo is not the first local government to announce a four-day work week.
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