Daiwa Securities Group to enhance paternity leave, president says

Daiwa Securities Group Inc. will bolster its paternity leave system by giving more paid holidays by the end of the current fiscal year, President Seiji Nakata said.

“Care is said to be especially necessary in the first two weeks after a spouse gives birth,” Nakata, 61, told The Yomiuri Shimbun.

The company plans to extend the period of paid paternity leave from the current two weeks to between three weeks and one month. This extension is aimed at increasing the average number of paternity-leave days taken from the current 10 days per worker to at least two weeks. For the past few years, 100% of company employees eligible for paternity leave have taken it.

“Expansion of the system is important to encourage employees to take longer childcare leave. A longer paid period will help them feel comfortable taking a two-week paternity leave,” Nakata said.