The national government may, for the purpose of continuing the employment of and promoting re-employment of workers who engage or will engage in childcare and caregiving for family members (hereinafter referred to as an "applicable worker") and former employee who resigned due to childcare (hereinafter referred to collectively as "applicable workers, etc."), and promoting the welfare of these persons, provide employers, employers' associations and other parties concerned with counseling services and advice with regard to managing employment, special measures for re-employment and other measures at a place of business where the applicable worker is employed, and with benefits and other necessary support.

①The national government is to provide applicable workers with necessary guidance, counseling services, training and other measures to contribute to the promotion of the work-life balance of workers, etc.

②Local governments must endeavor to take measures equivalent to those taken by the national government as set forth in the preceding paragraph.

The national government is to, for providing re-employment opportunities for former employee who resigned due to childcare, when they intend to work again, make considerations to assure vocational guidance, employment placement, redevelopment of vocational skills and other measures can be implemented in an effective and coordinated way and provide necessary support for the promotion of the smooth re-employment of former employee who resigned due to childcare.

The national government is to take necessary measures, including publicity activities, to increase the awareness of employers, workers, and the general public with regard to the work-life balance of applicable workers, etc., in order to eliminate workplace practices and other factors that prevent applicable workers, etc., from having a healthy work-life balance.

①Local governments must, as necessary, endeavor to establish family support centers for workers.

②Family support centers for workers are established for the purpose of implementing a comprehensive set of activities designed to promote the welfare of applicable workers, etc., such as the provision of counseling services, necessary guidance, training and lectures with regard to balancing working and family life for applicable workers, etc., and opportunities for rest and recreation.

③The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare is to specify desirable standards required for the establishment and administration of family support centers for workers.

④The national government may provide local governments with necessary advice, guidance and other support with regard to the establishment and administration of family support centers for workers.

①Local governments must, in family support centers for workers, endeavor to appoint personnel who take charge of providing counseling services and guidance for applicable workers, etc., (referred to as an "advisor of family support centers for workers" in the following paragraph).

②Advisors of family support centers for workers are to be selected from among persons who have enthusiasm for and insight into their duties, and who have the qualifications specified by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.