Japanese mothers are forced to bring their children to work or consider teleworking. (Image via AP/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japanese mothers balance working while taking care of their children as COVID-19 strikes

Last Thursday, the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, announced an abrupt plan to close all schools across Japan in a critical period of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The country recorded nearly 1,000 infection cases, including 706 confirmed cases on the Diamond Princess, and 12 deaths.

Since the school closure approaches the end of Japan’s academic year, schools throughout Japan, accounted for 12.7 million students, had little to no time for final exams or graduation ceremonies.

While the tourism and economy sectors are badly stricken by the virus, mothers also have to struggle to take care of their children. Many mothers have to limit their working hours, making it harder especially for single parents and those with children with disabilities.

Japanese culture sees nannies and babysitters as uncommon.

Many mothers are still exploring various options such as sending their children to public daycare centers for part of the day or teleworking more often. However, upholding moral and technical educations, they think that teleworking will make them busier at home, while there are too many temptations for their children since they are unmonitored.

Working mothers across Japan are questioning how the closure is effective for their children. According to the data from the World Health Organization (WHO) from over 44,000 patients in China, only 2.1 percent are children.

Moreover, Abe still allows daycare centers and after-school clubs aside from the closure to assist parents who are too busy with their children. Then, why did he close the school instead of keeping them open?

Source: https://bit.ly/2VBtfO9