Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is planning to introduce new regulations requiring companies with more than 100 employees to disclose the percentage of women in managerial positions, according to local media reports.

The initiative, as reported by national broadcaster NHK, seeks to encourage the active promotion of women to leadership roles and provide jobseekers with detailed information to evaluate potential employers.

A ministry survey conducted last year revealed that only 12.7% of managerial positions at the level of section chief or higher were occupied by women. This figure lags significantly behind international benchmarks, highlighting the persistent gender disparity in Japan’s corporate leadership.

In addition to the disclosure of women in management, the ministry is also considering mandating mid-sized firms to publish data on gender pay gaps, aiming to enhance transparency around wage disparities.

Officials plan to finalize and roll out these measures by the end of the year, marking a significant step in addressing workplace gender inequality in Japan.