Japan: companies focus on Premium Friday

Encouraging employees to leave work early at around 15.00 hrs on the last Friday of every month, leaving them time to go shopping or travel, is the goal of the Government led ‘Premium Friday’ campaign that was launched on 24 February.
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Relaunching consumer spending. The Premium Friday campaign comes at a time when Japanese consumption, which accounts for 60% of GDP, continues to languish. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared that the initiative will encourage the Japanese to use the time for other activities such as shopping, going to restaurants, and travelling, thereby giving the economy a needed boost. In addition it can give families extra time together to look after children. “This is important in our country that is under

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