(いくじ)(きゅうぎょう)

いくじきゅうぎょう
noun
childcare leave; parental leave
workfamily
1. childcare leave; parental leave
A period of leave from work granted to employees for the purpose of raising a child, legally guaranteed in Japan.
育児(いくじ)休業(きゅうぎょう)()
To take childcare leave.
The rate of men taking childcare leave is increasing.
During childcare leave, benefits are paid from employment insurance.
After giving birth, she took childcare leave and devoted herself to raising her child.

A compound of 育児(いくじ) (childcare) and 休業(きゅうぎょう) (leave from work). Often abbreviated to 育休(いくきゅう) in everyday conversation.

Japan's Childcare and Family Care Leave Act (育児(いくじ)介護(かいご)休業(きゅうぎょう)(ほう)) guarantees employees the right to take leave until their child turns one year old, with extensions possible up to two years.

Common collocations

  • 育児(いくじ)休業(きゅうぎょう)(): to take childcare leave
  • 育児(いくじ)休業(きゅうぎょう)取得(しゅとく)(りつ): childcare leave uptake rate
  • 育児(いくじ)休業(きゅうぎょう)給付(きゅうふ)(きん): childcare leave benefits
  • 育児(いくじ)休業(きゅうぎょう)(ちゅう): during childcare leave
  • 男性(だんせい)育児(いくじ)休業(きゅうぎょう): paternity leave

Cultural note

While Japan has had generous childcare leave provisions on paper for decades, actual uptake by fathers has historically been very low. Government campaigns to encourage male 育休(いくきゅう) have gained momentum in recent years, and the rate has been rising steadily.

Similar words