Japan Federation of Construction Contractors filed an interim report on promotion of female construction craft workers’ participation in the industry. The federation will prepare a manual of creating a better work environment such as toilets, advertising that the industry welcomes women. Member companies will be requested to set flexible working hours making it easier for more women to join the workforce as well as to establish all-female working teams dealing with every process including sales and engineering.

Increasing the number of female craft workers in various sectors of construction is expected to improve the impression of the industry and to enhance the future human resources. The special committee addressing the issue considers flexible hours enable women raising small children to work at the construction site. It also recommends assigning more works to groups consisting of female managers, engineers and workers since clients prefer it at some construction sites such as girls’ schools. (2014/02/21)