Ward mayor enjoys paternity leave
The mayor of Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, who earlier this month took nearly two weeks of paternity leave — a rare move by a municipality head — says the time he spent with his family meant a great deal and taught him how special a mother is.

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Boost sought for working mothers
The government is aiming for 55 percent of women to continue working after having their first baby by 2020, up from 38 percent in 2005, officials said.

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Fewer long weekends in 2011
SINGAPOREANS will get fewer long weekends next year.

Five out of the 11 public holidays will fall on a Friday or a Sunday next year, according to the schedule of public holidays in 2011 released by the Ministry of Manpower on Wednesday.

For more, see http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_517282.html

Major firms to limit hiring of new grads
Lingering uncertainty over the economy is leading many big companies to limit the number of new graduates they plan to hire next spring to levels equal to or lower than this year, according to a survey compiled Monday.

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Being low-paid male temp probably spells bachelorhood
Being a temp comes with a number of drawbacks: a lack of job security, often low pay — and if you're a man, anyway, little chance of tying the knot.

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Hatoyama eyes cut in corporate tax rate
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama expressed a desire Friday to lower the corporate tax rate to the levels of many other industrialized countries to help revive the economy.

For more, see http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20100313a3.html

Prefectural governments give telecommuting a try
The government is getting back on the telecommuting bandwagon in an attempt to promote a better a work-life balance for the nation's stressed-out workforce and to combat global warming.

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