http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/26/canon.babies/index.html


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TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Even before one reaches the front door
of Canon's headquarters in Tokyo, one can sense the virtual stampede of
employees pouring out of the building exactly at 5:30 p.m.






























































































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Japan's birth rate of 1.34 is below the level needed to maintain the country's population.
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In a country where 12-hour workdays are common, the electronics giant
has taken to letting its employees leave early twice a week for a
rather unusual reason: to encourage them to have more babies.



"Canon has a very strong birth planning program," says the company's
spokesman Hiroshi Yoshinaga. "Sending workers home early to be with
their families is a part of it."


Japan in the midst of an
unprecedented recession, so corporations are being asked to work toward
fixing another major problem: the country's low birthrate.



At 1.34, the birthrate is well below the 2.0 needed to maintain Japan's
population, according to the country's Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare.


Keidanren, Japan's largest business group, with 1,300
major international corporations as members, has issued a plea to its
members to let workers go home early to spend time with their families
and help Japan with its pressing social problem.


One reason for
the low birth rate is the 12-hour workday. But there are several other
factors compounding the problem -- among them, the high cost of living,
and social rigidity toward women and parenting.


In addition, Japan's population is aging at a faster pace than any other country in the world.



Analysts say the world's second-largest economy faces its greatest
threat from its own social problems, rather than outside forces. And
the country desperately needs to make some fixes to its current social
and work structures, sociologists say.


Canon says its 5:30 p.m.
lights-out program is one simple step toward helping address the
population problem. It also has an added benefit: Amid the global
economic downturn the company can slash overtime across the board twice
a week.


"It's great that we can go home early and not feel ashamed," said employee Miwa Iwasaki.