Japan adds the Childcare Shorter Working Hours Employment Benefit (育児時短就業給付金) — in force from 1 April 2025
Source material is a Japanese government announcement (in Japanese); this page is a summary.
Japan added the Childcare Shorter Working Hours Employment Benefit (育児時短就業給付金) to employment insurance on 1 April 2025 — insured persons who shorten their weekly scheduled working hours to raise a child under 2 years old and who meet the conditions, such as lower wages, get 10% of the wages paid in each month of shorter-hours work as a rule.
Key facts
| Name of the scheme | 育児時短就業給付金 (Childcare Shorter Working Hours Employment Benefit) |
|---|---|
| Date created (in force) | 1 April 2025 (Reiwa 7) |
| Responsible body | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (prefectural labour bureaus and public employment security offices, known as Hello Work) |
| Who it covers | Employment insurance insured persons (general insured persons and elderly insured persons) who shorten their weekly scheduled working hours to raise a child under 2 years old |
| Eligibility conditions | (1) starting shorter-hours work for the same child directly after childcare leave covered by the childcare leave benefit, or (2) having 12 complete months in the 2 years before the shorter-hours work starts with 11 or more days counted as the basis for wage payment (or, if there are no such days, 80 or more hours counted as the basis for wage payment) |
| Amount | As a rule, 10% of the wages paid in each month of shorter-hours work (where wages are above 90% and below 100% of the monthly wage at the start, an adjusted payment rate applies) |
| Payment ceiling | 471,393 yen (the amount applied until 31 July 2026) |
| Minimum threshold | Nothing is paid if the calculated amount is 2,411 yen or less (until 31 July 2026) |
| Upper and lower limits on the monthly wage at the start | Upper limit 483,300 yen / lower limit 90,420 yen (amounts applied until 31 July 2026) |
Last checked:
On 1 April 2025 (Reiwa 7), the Childcare Shorter Working Hours Employment Benefit was added to the employment insurance 'childcare leave and related benefits'. It goes to employment insurance insured persons who shorten their weekly scheduled working hours to raise a child under 2 years old and who meet certain conditions, such as being paid less than before the shorter hours. As a rule the benefit is 10% of the wages paid in each month of shorter-hours work, and the payment rate is adjusted so that wages plus benefit do not exceed the monthly wage at the start of the shorter-hours period. The payment ceiling is 471,393 yen (the amount applied until 31 July 2026), and nothing is paid if the calculated amount is 2,411 yen or less.
Background — why this change
The Childcare Shorter Working Hours Employment Benefit is one of the benefits that make up the employment insurance 'childcare leave and related benefits' (育児休業等給付), alongside the childcare leave at birth benefit, the childcare leave benefit and the post-birth leave support benefit. It was created on 1 April 2025 (Reiwa 7). It is paid when someone shortens their scheduled working hours to raise a child under 2 years old and meets certain conditions, such as being paid less.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
Summaries reflect national-level programs. Municipal (city/ward/town) programs may differ — confirm with the official desk before applying.
FAQ
Who can get it?
Employment insurance insured persons (general insured persons and elderly insured persons) who shorten their weekly scheduled working hours to raise a child under 2 years old. You must either have started the shorter-hours work for the same child directly after childcare leave covered by the childcare leave benefit, or have 12 complete months in the 2 years before the shorter-hours work starts with 11 or more days counted as the basis for wage payment (or, if there are no such days, 80 or more hours counted as the basis for wage payment). Check the exact decision in your case with your local Hello Work office.
How much do you get?
As a rule, 10% of the wages paid in each month of shorter-hours work. The payment rate is adjusted so that wages plus benefit do not exceed the monthly wage at the start of the shorter-hours period: at 90% or less of that monthly wage you get wages × 10%, and above 90% but below 100% an adjusted payment rate applies.
Are there cases where nothing is paid?
Nothing is paid if your wages in a month are 100% or more of the monthly wage at the start, so your wages are treated as not having fallen; if your wages in a month are at or above the payment ceiling (471,393 yen, applied until 31 July 2026); or if the calculated amount is at or below the minimum threshold (2,411 yen, until 31 July 2026).