[Provisional translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a ceremony of raising a signboard for the Secretariat for Promoting the Realization of Work Style Reform, and also delivered an address to the staff.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

“We will finally begin efforts toward work style reform. Work style reform is the greatest challenge we face as we aim for the realization of a society in which all citizens are dynamically engaged. 

At the same time, work styles truly connect directly to everyone’s lifestyle, and they are an extremely significant issue for managers and companies.

That alone makes this an extremely difficult issue. However, I am resolved to stand on the front lines for work on this issue.

We need to eliminate the term ‘irregular employment.’ We also need to change our society, which takes pride in long working hours. At one point in time, an ideal image for a worker was someone who put work above all else. We will deny that way of thinking itself. That is the kind of Japan I want to create.

People will lead rich lives. At the same time, companies will see increased productivity, and Japan will shine in the midst of all of that. I want to thoroughly advance work style reform centering on the mindsets of those who work so that they will come to think of Japan as a wonderful place to live.

This is our greatest challenge, and so I have chosen our best and gathered you all here. I expect that you will be a force to be reckoned with under the leadership of Minister Kato.

Let’s produce results on this issue together and put our best efforts forward.”