Teleworking rate in Japan remains low despite government urge

Despite a call by the Japanese government to lower the number of workers in offices by 70%, companies in the country have not practiced teleworking much, a survey by the Japan Productivity Centre shows. 

The proportion of teleworkers fell to 22% in mid-January, from 31.5 % in May 2020, when the country was under its first state of emergency.

In Tokyo and three neighbouring prefectures, the proportion of teleworkers fell to 32.7%, from 41.3% since January 8. The state of emergency was then later expanded to include seven other prefectures. 

Meanwhile, the percentage of teleworkers who went to the office not more than two days per week fell to 55% from 69.4% earlier.

An official at the Japan Productivity Centre attributes the lower rate of remote working in the country to the society getting used to the coronavirus, according to The Japan Times. 

READ: Japan urges businesses to promote teleworking

Japan is tackling a rise in COVID-19 cases. A survey by Kyodo News found that at least 15,058 people were on waiting lists for a hospital or designated accommodation after testing positive for the coronavirus earlier this month, in the 11 prefectures under a state of emergency.