Zero Population Growth
Mood:  incredulous
Here's an interesting article from the Daily Yomiuri, Dec.22nd, 2004:

The (Japanese) government will set numerical targets for companies and local governments to create an environment that will halt the decline in the birthrate, according to a new program addressing the issue.
The program will be approved Friday at a government panel halting the decline in the birthrate.
The program is an action plan based on an outline approved by the Cabinet in June for dealing with a society with a declining birthrate.
The program has four major goals:
-- To help children grow up to be independent and healthy.
-- To help parents manage work at the office and at home and to review the work environment.
-- To teach young people the value of life and the role of the family.
-- To encourage further cooperation in child-rearing.
The government will work on these goals from fiscal 2005 to fiscal 2009.
Targets for companies include encouraging employees to take at least 55 percent of paid holidays every year; establishing a system of child-care leave in all companies; and cutting the number of employees who work more than 60 hours a week by at least 10 percent.
On average, employees took only 47 percent of paid holidays in fiscal 2003, while 61 percent of companies introduced child-care leave systems in 2002.

(Bold and underscore are my additions)