December 27, 2004

Ministry of Internal Affairs and
Communications

MIC to introduce Telework for its employees




The MIC will start Telework trial with its employees from January 4, 2005.

Objective:
Telework contributes to bringing about a more flexible work format, creating employment through an increase in work opportunities, promoting measures to deal with fewer children and an aging population, and preventing global warming. It is attracting more and more attention against the background of the spectacular recent progress in information and communications technology.

At the same time, Telework has not yet been introduced to government employees. There is strong demand for this to be implemented by government employees, from the point of view of promoting the introduction of Telework in the country as a whole.

Taking this situation into consideration, the MIC has decided to implement the first trial of Telework among government employees (General Accounting). Since issues relating to information security measures in particular will be addressed in the trial, the MIC plans to address and resolve issues ahead of the expansion of Telework from fiscal 2005.

Main points to be established:
o Addressing topics on information security measures
o Addressing work management issues ahead of expanded implementation from fiscal 2005

Schedule:
Implementation from January 4, until the end of February 2005, and production of report by the end of the fiscal year.

For details refer to the Japanese web site
http://www.soumu.go.jp/s-news/2004/041227_13.html

For further information about this press release, please contact:

International Policy Division, International Affairs Department
Telecommunications Bureau
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Tel: (03) 5253-5920 Fax: (03) 5253-5924

Or visit
http://www.soumu.go.jp/joho_tsusin/eng/contact.html to fill in the inquiry form.