October 13, 2020 Implementation of MIC’s Regional Telework Trial

As part of the programs planned during the Telework Month, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will implement a regional telework trial in collaboration with local governments that promote workation; which enables people to both work smoothly and enjoy local sites.

1. Background

Telework has been recognized for its usefulness from the perspective of improving productivity and Work-style reforms. MIC has endeavored to promote this workstyle, particularly during “Telework Days” and “Telework Month^*” in November. Furthermore, in light of the outbreak of COVID-19, the spread and establishment of new lifestyles are required. The realization of a place-agnostic work style using telework is one of the major themes during the COVID-19 crisis, and the usage rate of telework has increased dramatically.

On the other hand, location-agnostic telework also leads to the opportunity for residents who work in urban areas to make U-turns or move to their hometowns or familiar regions. By establishing satellite offices in rural areas and setting up digital businesses, population concentration in Tokyo may be expected to ease.

Considering the above, as part of public relations for Telework Month, MIC will collaborate with local governments that promote workation to enable people to both work smoothly and enjoy local sites. Accordingly, MIC will exchange opinions with the local governments with an eye on the promotion of workation. Besides, ministry staff and private company staff will experience working at local satellite offices. Then, MIC will implement a regional telework trial to verify the effectiveness of regional telework and identify issues.

• *
  Telework Month: The Telework Promotion Forum (an industry-academia-government organization established in response to the encouragement of MIC, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for telework promotion) has designated November as Telework Month since 2015.

2. Project overview

1. Trial period

Sunday, November 1 through Monday, November 30, 2020

2. Organizations who carry the trial

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and Japan Telework Association

3. Participating organizations (expected)

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan Tourism Agency, Ministry of the Environment, and members of Japan Telework Association

4. Cooperating organizations

Wakayama Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture

5. Locations

Satellite offices in Shirahama Town (Wakayama Prefecture) and Karuizawa Town (Nagano Prefecture)

6. Contents

• 1.
  Meetings with local governments (exchanging opinions) and holding seminars and events related to telework
• 2.
  Experience working at local satellite offices