来月２～１０日「連休化」を　西村担当相、経済界に提案―新型コロナ

　西村康稔経済再生担当相ら４閣僚は２４日、中西宏明経団連会長ら経済団体、労働組合のトップとテレビ会議を開き、新型コロナウイルスの封じ込めに向けたゴールデンウイーク（ＧＷ）期間中の外出抑制を要請した。西村氏は「ＧＷ後の（５月）７日と８日も連続休暇とすることも含めて協力をお願いしたい」と述べ、本来の５連休（２～６日）を１０日までの９連休に拡大して出勤の機会を減らすことを提案した。
　政府は人と人の接触を８割削減するよう呼び掛けている。赤羽一嘉国土交通相は連休中に一斉に人出が増える事態を防ぐため、「休日も在宅勤務をして別の時期にしっかり休むといった新たな取り組み」も選択肢になると指摘した。
　中西会長は終了後、記者団に対し、８割の削減を目指す考えを強調した上で、「在宅勤務が役立つのか、休みにしたほうがいいのかは状況によって変わる」と述べ、具体的な対応は各企業に委ねる意向を示した。（2020/04/24-20:15）

Japanese economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura proposed to business leaders Friday that weekdays in the upcoming Golden Week be made rest days for a longer holiday period to reduce the number of people commuting to work amid the coronavirus crisis.
   Nishimura and three other ministers of the cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a videoconference with Hiroaki Nakanishi, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, and other business as well as labor leaders to seek their cooperation to help reduce travel during the Golden Week holiday period as a way to prevent the spread of the virus.
   Nishimura proposed that the five successive holidays from May 2 to 6, during the Golden Week, be extended to a nine-day holiday period through May 10 by making May 7, a Thursday, and May 8, a Friday, days of rest for workers.
   The government is seeking to reduce interpersonal interactions by 80 pct in the fight against the virus. Transport minister Kazuyoshi Akaba said that one possible new approach would be to let people work from home during the holidays and set a separate period for rest in order to reduce outings in the Golden Week.
   "Whether it is better to have employees work from home or take leave depends on the situation," Nakanishi told reporters after the conference, suggesting that specific measures will be left up to each company. He also affirmed his commitment to help achieve the goal of reducing interactions by 80 pct.