SuFIA Releases Policy Proposal on "Social OJT" and Flexible Work to Support Women's Career Continuity

The general incorporated association SuFIA (Location: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hidetoshi Miyaji; hereinafter "SuFIA") has compiled and recently published the "Policy Proposal Report to Sustain Women's Careers through Social OJT and Flexible Work." Background In recent years, while the employment rate of women in Japan has steadily increased due to initiatives promoting female empowerment, the difficulty of returning to regular employment after leaving the workforce for life events such as marriage and childbirth has not yet been resolved. Furthermore, the ratio of female managers has not grown sufficiently, and many challenges remain from the perspective of career continuity. Moreover, while the demand for flexible work styles like remote work is increasing, the reality is that full-remote permanent positions are limited, forcing many women to choose unstable forms of work such as outsourcing or freelancing. In addition, new issues have emerged, such as a "gap period" due to a lack of opportunities to connect reskilling to practical experience, the difficulty of training and management in a remote environment, and a decline in communication. In light of this situation, this report focuses on the gap between "women's desire to work" and the "societal systems to accommodate them," and proposes the need for policies to support career continuity throughout society. Key Points of the Proposal *Please see here for the full text of the policy proposal. This proposal aims to realize a society where women can continue to work without interrupting their careers after life events, based on the pillars of "Social OJT (a system for developing human resources throughout society)" and "the establishment of flexible work." The main proposals are the following five points: 1. Building a Social OJT Infrastructure Develop "intermediate employment opportunities" where beginners and those re-entering the workforce after a career interruption can gain practical experience in stages. Also, build a system where training costs are shared by society as a whole, not just by individual companies. 2. Training Remote Management Personnel Promote the institutionalization of training for managers and support for the placement of specialized personnel to ensure appropriate training and support even in a remote environment. 3. Strengthening Communication Support Address isolation and lack of collaboration in remote environments by developing guidelines, securing opportunities for face-to-face meetings, and introducing mentor systems and peer support. 4. Stabilizing Employment for Flexible Workers Improve the stability of work styles by supporting the transition from freelance to full-time employment and strengthening safety nets such as social insurance and income compensation. 5. Promoting the Right Person for the Right Job Promote the realization of work styles suitable for each individual through placement according to aptitude for remote work and support for gradual transitions. *This proposal was created based on insights gained from initiatives (mindset training and career counseling) implemented using the "Fujitsu NPO/NGO Partnership Program," a grant program conducted by Fujitsu Limited for NPO/NGO corporations working on social issues. *A summary video of this proposal was produced using an application from Arthur Brief, a company that provides a video auto-generation platform utilizing AI technology. Future Outlook SuFIA will strengthen collaboration with various stakeholders such as companies, government, and educational institutions to promote a society-wide effort to realize this proposal. Women's career continuity is not just an individual issue; it is a crucial theme directly linked to the sustainability of Japanese society and solving labor shortages. SuFIA will continue to contribute to the realization of a society where everyone can build a career that is true to themselves. About SuFIA Under the mission of “Supporting the Financial Independence of All,” SuFIA aims to realize an "eco-system of mutual support—where everyone can work in their own way and remain connected to society." Through the spread of new work styles utilizing IT and remote work, we are working to create an environment where people with diverse circumstances can choose employment that suits them, thereby creating job opportunities and supporting career development. [Organization Overview] Corporate Name: General Incorporated Association SuFIA Location: 2-36-15 Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0033 Representative: Hidetoshi Miyaji (Representative Director) Established: March 8, 2024 (International Women's Day) URL: https://sufia.or.jp/ [Contact Information] General Incorporated Association SuFIA E-Mail: contact@sufia.or.jp Inquiry Form: https://sufia.or.jp/contact