JAPAN LAUNCHES 'PREMIUM FRIDAY' CAMPAIGN TO BOOST CONSUMPTION|日推廣"超值星期五" 提前下班吃喝玩樂

Japan has struggled to tackle the impact of overwork on employees' health. That's why the Japanese government has launched a so-called "Premium Friday" campaign, an optional scheme that allows employees to leave at 3 PM on the last Friday of the month. The aim is to change Japan's notorious culture of overwork and stimulate consumer spending. However, a survey showed that just 3% of Japanese companies are participating. It is 3 PM on a Friday afternoon, but Yuka Nanjo, who works at an IT company, has already left work and is going to an art exhibition. ==YUKA NANJO IT Worker== I don't often get days off, so I decided to go to the art museum. It's a rare opportunity to try something new. I think that's how a lot of people would feel. One Japanese IT company has already instituted so-called "Premium Fridays" two years ago. Employees use the extra time off to get together with their friends or work out at the gym. ==TOMONORI HAYAKAWA IT Company President== Nobody can keep up high work performance without rest. (After instituting the policy) we've had very positive business results as well. Shinzo Abe's government reached an agreement with Japan's major business groups last year to end the business day at 3 PM on the last Friday of every month. Known as "Premium Friday," this policy aims to raise domestic consumer spending and reduce Japan's culture of overwork. ==HIROSHIGE SEKO Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry== Wages have grown for three straight years, but there has been no increase in consumption. We hope that this reform to working hours will encourage people to spend more. Some companies are requiring employees to work an extra half hour between Monday and Thursday in order to leave early on Friday. However, most companies outside of major corporations are less than enthusiastic about this policy. A survey showed that only 3% of companies are implementing Premium Fridays, and a poll by the Asahi Group showed that only 37% of the Japanese public agrees with the policy. Employees on hourly salaries are also vehemently opposed. ==YOSHIO KODERA Food Company President== Of course, we can't let production stop. For small and medium enterprises like ourselves, ending work early on a Friday, particularly a Friday at the end of the month, poses practical challenges. ==MITSUAKI SAITO Food Company PR Manager== To be honest, we just don't know how many people would go straight home after getting off work at three. We'll need to do some new campaigns around this. The effect of this policy is still unknown, but a private organization has projected that it could lead to an increase in consumption ranging from 60 billion to 600 billion yen. TRANSLATED BY：JOHN CHEN 日本政府推廣「超值星期五」運動，鼓勵企業每個月、最後一個星期五讓員工提早兩小時下班，希望藉此刺激消費，改善日本過勞的企業文化。這項政策24號正式上路。不過根據CCC集團的調查，配合這項政策的企業僅有3%。 星期五下午三點，在科技公司上班的南條圓香，已經提早下班。前往美術館看展。 ==IT企業員工 南條圓香== 因為難得休假 想說去美術館好了 難得有機會 就挑戰一下新的事物 我個人認為 很容易產生這種心情 日本這家科技公司兩年前就提前實施超值星期五制度，員工利用多出來的周末假期，約朋友喝下午茶聚餐，或是上健身房運動紓壓。 ==IT企業業者 早川與規== 一直沒有休息 還能夠持續 表現出高工作成效的人 我想是沒有的 (現在實施後)業績方面 也出現了不錯成果 為擴大內需提振消費，以及改善日本企業過勞文化。安倍政府，去年年底跟最大工商團體「經團連」等商業團體達成協議。從這個月24號開始，推廣每個月最後一個星期五下午三點提早下班，稱為「超值星期五」。 ==日本經濟產業大臣 世耕弘成== 在薪水連續三年增長下 消費狀況卻遲遲沒有(增加)動靜 期盼能藉此改革工作方式 總之 也希望能因此促進消費 為了在星期五提早兩小時下班，有的企業要求員工得在星期一到四多工作半小時。或是提早上班。不過除了知名大企業，絕大多數業者對這項計畫意興闌珊。根據CCC集團的調查，配合這項政策的企業只有3%。根據朝日集團的調查，只有三成七的日本民眾認同這樣作，一些領取時薪的民眾，則是極力反對，因為會影響收入。 ==日本食品業者 小寺芳朗== 當然不能讓生產也跟著停下 以我們這樣的中小企業來說 週五 還是接近月底的週末週五 要提早下班是很現實的問題 ==飲食業者公關 齋藤光繪== 老實說三點下班 有多少人會回家 我們處於完全無法了解的情況 如果不開始做些新企劃是不行的 目前這項措施的成效如何還不得而知，但日本民間機構預估一年可以帶動6百到6千億日圓的消費。 記者綜合報導