Did you know that there are more individuals aged 60 and above in Japan than the total population in Malaysia? The low birth rate and long-lived population have caused Japan to have a labor shortage problem. Among the solutions that have been taken and that we have covered is the introduction of robots that remotely control workers in the Philippines.
Recently, Reuters reported that in addition to increasing the use of automation, companies in Japan have begun to relax the requirements for clothing and jewelry that can be worn by employees. In the past, employees were prohibited from dyeing their hair other than black and brown so that they would present a more professional image. Now, more and more companies allow employees to dye their hair according to personal preferences.
Other changes made are that there is no longer a ban on dyeing nails, wearing rings (previously only wedding rings were allowed) and employees can also wear heavy makeup according to current trends.
Wearing uniforms is also no longer mandatory, as are ties and jackets. This effort was started a few years ago as a measure to reduce electricity consumption in the summer by encouraging casual clothing. In addition, a 4-day workweek was also introduced for married women last year.
Although this more relaxed approach is for the short term. The birth rate for every woman in Japan is 1.2, which is far below the 2.0 needed to maintain the population. Last year, for example, the population of Japan decreased by 1 million people. The combination of high cost of living, job pressure, and lack of initiative from the government is the reason for this.
What is happening in Japan is not unique to this country. The latest DOSM data says that in Malaysia the birth rate is 1.6 for every woman. Perhaps soon local companies will also have to follow Japan's lead simply to find workers who are increasingly scarce.
