「出生時育休」２２年１０月にも　妻の負担減へ父親向け新制度―厚労省

　労働政策審議会（厚生労働相の諮問機関）は２７日、男性が妻の出産直後に育児休業を取得しやすくする新制度導入に向け、今通常国会に提出する育児・介護休業法改正案の要綱を了承した。「出生時育休」制度として、２０２２年１０月にも新設。国の雇用保険で賄う育休中の給付水準の引き上げは見送られ、現行制度と同じ休業前賃金の６７％が支給される。
　少子化問題の解決へ「『イクメン』を当たり前に」と訴えてきた菅義偉首相肝煎りの政策の一つ。新制度は妻の出産後８週間以内に、出産直後と里帰りから戻る際など２回に分けて計４週間の育休を取得できる。分割取得により、きめ細かい母子へのケアを促すとともに、勤務先への申し出を取得２週間前（現行１カ月前）までに短縮するなど、現行制度の使い勝手を高めた。
　厚労省は男性の育児参加と女性の雇用継続が進まない現状を是正する措置と位置付けており、女性の産後うつを防ぐ効果も期待されている。（2021/01/27-20:19）

A Japanese government panel Wednesday approved an outline of a proposed law amendment to introduce as early as October 2022 a new leave scheme for men whose wives have just given birth.
   Following the decision by the Labor Policy Council, which advises the labor minister, the government will submit a draft bill to amend the law on child and family care leave to the ongoing ordinary session of the Diet, the country's parliament.
   Male workers using the new leave scheme will be entitled to benefits equivalent to 67 pct of their wages, the same amount given under the current child care leave system. The idea of increasing the benefits, paid under the country's employment insurance program, has been scrapped.
   The new scheme is a key policy measure of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who backs "ikumen", or men actively engaged in child rearing, as a driving force to combat the country's declining birthrate.
   Under law, both male and female workers are allowed to take child care leave until their children reach 1 year old in principle. Women can also take maternity leave of six weeks before childbirth and eight weeks after delivery.