Nishikitani Mariko, Inoue Mariko, Tsurugano Shinobu
Institute of Decision Science for a Sustainable Society, Kyushu University.
Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University.
Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2018;73(2):215-224. doi: 10.1265/jjh.73.215.
In this paper, we examine the trend in Japan towards nonregular employment and its effects on marriage, childbirth, and childcare from the viewpoint of a decreasing societal birthrate. Although the decision to marry includes personal values and preferences, socioeconomic status factors such as income and employment type are also associated with the determinants of marriage. Nonregular employment workers have a lower rate and motivation for marriage than regular workers. Thus, socioeconomic disparity caused by employment needs to be minimized through governmental measures and policies. Nonregular employment is increasing among younger generations, and for them, maternity and childcare leave are especially vital. Employee insurance coverage should be expanded to function as a form of income security during these leaves of absence, such that nonregular workers are also covered. During the childcare period, which lasts more than 10 years, it is necessary to cover childrearing costs and also the time required to spend with children. If a single working parent is involved in childcare alone, there is the burden of both work and childcare. Additionally, long work hours can also impact workers that are not involved in childcare. This is a dilemma: a stable and regular employment is often necessary to achieve a higher education; however, it is difficult for nonregular employees to take care of and prepare children for higher education owing to limited financial means. Properly designed measures and policies are necessary to break this chain. Importantly, considerations about life and work are important for all workers, including nonregular workers, who are especially affected in terms of marriage, childbirth, and childcare.
在本文中，我们从社会出生率下降的角度审视了日本非正规就业的趋势及其对婚姻、生育和育儿的影响。尽管结婚的决定包含个人价值观和偏好，但收入和就业类型等社会经济地位因素也与婚姻的决定因素相关。非正规就业工人的结婚率和结婚意愿低于正规工人。因此，需要通过政府措施和政策将就业造成的社会经济差距降至最低。非正规就业在年轻一代中日益增加，对他们来说，产假和育儿假尤为重要。应扩大员工保险覆盖范围，使其在这些缺勤期间起到收入保障的作用，以便非正规工人也能得到覆盖。在长达十多年的育儿期内，有必要支付育儿成本以及陪伴孩子所需的时间成本。如果单亲职场人士独自承担育儿责任，就会面临工作和育儿的双重负担。此外，长时间工作也会对未参与育儿的工人产生影响。这是一个两难困境：稳定的正规就业往往是接受高等教育所必需的；然而，非正规雇员由于经济手段有限，难以照顾孩子并为孩子接受高等教育做好准备。需要制定精心设计的措施和政策来打破这一链条。重要的是，对包括非正规工人在内的所有工人来说，生活和工作方面的考量都很重要，非正规工人在婚姻、生育和育儿方面尤其受到影响。
