Today's Close-Up S2025E59 - Shorter Hours With Regular Status: Win-Win Model for Workers, Employers?

A working style known as "short-time regular employment," which allows employees to receive wages and benefits comparable to those of regular staff despite working fewer hours, is gaining attention. It has begun to be introduced in workplaces with serious labor shortages, such as nursing, caregiving and retail. Even though wages and social security costs increase, some companies are boosting sales by securing talented personnel and improving productivity. Will part-time regular employment become more widespread? We assess the possibilities and challenges.

Guest: Tanaka Yoko (Professor Emeritus, University of Tsukuba)