Japan mayor set to become first with maternity leave

JAPAN, May 27 — Japan mayor set to become first with maternity leave A western Japan city official plans to take maternity leave in what is believed to be a first among incumbent female mayors. Mayor Kawata Shoko of Yawata City, Kyoto Prefecture, told reporters on Thursday that she plans to have time off before and after giving birth in September. The 35-year-old added that she is considering taking childcare leave as well.

Japan s Labor Standards Act stipulates maternity leave for workers but does not apply to city mayors. A city ordinance providing maternity leave for city employees also does not include mayors. Kawata said she will use existing laws as a reference on the length of leave while coordinating preparations with the city assembly and others.

The city s deputy mayor is expected to stand in for her while she is on leave. To respond to a disaster and other important incidents, Kawata plans to attend meetings online and communicate with city officials by phone and email as long as she can. Kawata won the mayoral election in November 2023 at the age of 33, becoming Japan s youngest-ever female city mayor.

Kawata said that she will try hard to win understanding of residents by telling them that she is making thorough preparations so that her leave would not affect the city s governance. She said that she hopes this will become an opportunity to accelerate discussions toward a society where women in administrative positions are not forced to make a choice between work and family life.