Tokyo, July 13 (Jiji Press)–To the knowledge of more than 40 pct of Japanese workers, no fathers at their workplaces have taken child care leave, according to a Jiji Press opinion survey in June.

Among respondents with jobs, 31.5 pct, the largest share, said that paternal leave systems are in place at workplace but that the atmosphere does not encourage the use of such leave.

They were followed by 27.2 pct who said there is no such supportive system at workplace and 17.1 pct who said they do not have access to such system as they are self-employed or freelancers.

Those who said child care leave systems have been established at workplace and they are easy to use for men accounted for 13.9 pct.

Asked about the length of paternity leave used by their colleagues, the biggest group of those who have such leave system at workplace, at 42.3 pct, said no one have taken leave to their knowledge.

According to the survey, 9.6 pct said their male colleagues took leave of two to six days, followed by six months to one year, at 8.5 pct, and two to five months, at 7.7 pct.

Those who cited paternity leave of longer than a year accounted for 2.4 pct, while 1.3 pct said their male colleagues took only one day off for child care.

Of all respondents, 39.8 pct said fathers do not need to take child care leave but should provide some help their wives if needed.

They were followed by those who said fathers should prioritize work and help only when they can, at 31.3 pct, and those who think that fathers should focus on work and leave child-rearing to their wives, at 4.1 pct.

The share of respondents who said fathers should participate in child-rearing as much as their wives do by taking child care leave or other means stood at only 20.6 pct.

The interview-based opinion poll was conducted on June 7-10, covering 2,000 people aged 18 or older nationwide. Of them, 62.8 pct gave valid response.