#Japan #Osaka #Sekisui House #Takamiya #Ikukyu.PJT

Takamiya and Its Commitment to Men's Parental Leave

Takamiya Co., Ltd., an innovator in the construction industry with headquarters in Osaka and Tokyo, is supporting the "IKUKYU.PJT" project initiated by Sekisui House. This project focuses on promoting parental leave for men, a significant step towards changing workplace cultures around childcare in Japan’s construction sector.

Background of Support

Recent statistics from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare show that the rate of men taking parental leave in Japan rose dramatically to 40.5% in the fiscal year 2024, up from 30.1% the previous year. This groundbreaking achievement marks a significant shift towards meeting the government's goal of achieving a 50% leave-taking rate among private enterprises by 2025.

However, challenges remain, including short leave durations, concerns about career progression, and outdated workplace cultures. Therefore, it is essential to not only increase the number of leave-takers but also create an environment where they can balance parenthood and careers effectively. By aligning with Sekisui House's vision, Takamiya aims to promote men's parental leave proactively, ensuring employees can thrive in both their personal and professional lives.

What is the 'IKUKYU.PJT'?

The 'IKUKYU.PJT' was launched in 2019 by Sekisui House as a dedicated project to encourage men to take parental leave. With September 19 designated as "Parenting Leave Awareness Day," various activities have been rolled out to facilitate parenting leave among men, culminating in over 174 companies supporting the initiative in 2025. This includes spreading awareness on the importance of men's parental leave through Web videos and social media campaigns, all based on real experiences from those who have taken the leave.

For more details, visit the official site.

Takamiya's Support for Balancing Work and Parenting

At Takamiya, we adhere to a people-first philosophy, which emphasizes that our workforce is the core of our business strength. We strive to create a supportive environment where employees can work securely. We believe investing in our human resources is essential for sustainable growth and enhancing corporate value.

As part of our commitment, we have expanded our maternity and parental leave policies and created an enabling work environment. Following the first-ever instance of a male employee taking parental leave in March 2023, the number of participants has steadily grown, with projections for 5 users by March 2024 and 11 by March 2025. Additionally, we have maintained a high reinstatement rate of 80% for those returning from parental leave over the past five years, while implementing flexible work policies, such as shortened working hours that accommodate parenting duties.

In addition to promoting parental leave among men, Takamiya has introduced policies that exceed legal requirements. These include options for remote work, flexible working hours, and compensation during parental leave. Employees are offered various facilities like shortened working hours of at least five hours, expanded short-time work applicability until the child completes the 3rd grade in elementary school, and providing support leave related to childcare (a minimum of 10 days annually).

Supportive Framework Among Employees

To further support our employees, we have established a supportive mechanism within the workplace:

• - In-House Dispatch System: This transparency allows employees to share their work-related challenges and seek assistance from fellow colleagues, fostering cooperation and skills development.
• - Coin System: Employees can flexibly provide and obtain workforce assistance between departments, with contributions being recognized and rewarded with coins (bonuses). This system encourages cooperation while enhancing productivity.

Through these initiatives, we aim to foster an environment where every employee, including those who are parenting, can choose a working style that resonates with their personal values and balance their professional obligations with family life seamlessly. We remain dedicated to supporting the career development of employees who balance work and childcare.

Feedback from Employees on Taking Parental Leave

Management-level employees who have taken parental leave have shared significant insights. One staff member from the sales department stated, "Taking this leave provided a rare opportunity to truly appreciate the challenges, joys, and profound love that comes with parenting. The majority of our time with children is concentrated in their formative years, which represent over 90% of the time we get to spend together. While work is important, the time and memories made with children hold irreplaceable value. I encourage everyone to consider taking parental leave positively!"

About the Takamiya Platform

To tackle challenges faced in the construction sector, including severe labor shortages and high costs, Takamiya offers the Takamiya Platform—a comprehensive group of construction solutions. This includes a marketplace for the procurement and operation of temporary construction equipment such as scaffolding, digital design support, and a specialized free recruitment site for scaffolders.

These innovative solutions lead to cost reductions within the construction industry, addressing talent shortages, enhancing safety, and improving operational efficiency, ultimately contributing to a boost in productivity across the sector.

About Takamiya Co., Ltd.

Takamiya delivers an extensive range of products and services from developing and manufacturing to sales, rental, design, and construction for temporary construction materials, residential equipment, structural materials, agricultural houses, and disaster prevention dams. By continually innovating technological advancements, we are dedicated to enhancing safety and feasibility across various fields, including underground construction, high-rise buildings, highways, bridges, agriculture, and disaster response sectors, thus contributing to industry growth and development.

• - Company Name: Takamiya Co., Ltd.
• - CEO: Kazumasa Takamiya
• - Headquarters: 27th Floor, Tower B, Grand Front Osaka, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita Ward, Osaka City, and 12th Floor, Onward Park Building, 3-10-5 Nihonbashi, Chuo Ward, Tokyo.
• - Website: Takamiya Corporate
• - Established: June 21, 1969
• - Capital: 1,052.14 million yen
• - Number of Employees: 794 (consolidated workforce of 1,415)
• - Business Activities: Development, manufacturing, sales, rental of temporary construction equipment, and planning, design, and construction of temporary works.