Osaka Governor wants civil servants to work harder, smoke less

Cigarette-addicted public sector employees in Osaka might want to consider a job change. Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto revealed on Tuesday he is investigating the possibilities to enforce a total cigarette ban for prefectural employees during working hours, the Asahi Shimbun reports.

The ban would not only mean the removal of smoking rooms on prefectural government grounds, but also that the 15-minute breaks Osaka’s public workers are given twice daily would be canceled. The former TV-lawyer turned governor hopes this will allow for a workforce more devoted to carrying out their duties.

Hashimoto revealed his plans during a meeting with the prefecture’s Department of Public Health and Welfare, saying “Having a break just for smoking is absurd.“

Osaka’s civil servants are according to regulations allowed two 15 minute breaks per four hours of work, but the regulations could easily be changed. According to the prefecture’s office of personnel affairs, a majority of Japan’s prefectural governments have already abolished these breaks.

Only 26% of all Osaka’s prefectural employees smoke, according to the Asahi Shimbun. The governor himself does not belong to this group, he claims.

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2 responses to “Osaka Governor wants civil servants to work harder, smoke less”

Richard Murray, Mar 19 at 8:57 am :

Haha, pure comedy. I’ve seen Hashimoto go crazy over small things on “Soko made itte, iinkai,” but I thought he had more brains than this.

Takao Nakamura, Aug 21 at 9:32 pm :

Regarding to Richard Murray comments.

I guess for some foreign people that live in Japan in fact the Governor reaction seems too much for little thing or even “no brains”, however I would like to ask one important question to Mr. Murray , DO YOU PAY TAX IN JAPAN or better, do you work ??? just to make clear …..for you perhaps don’t seems so important the reality of our public servant spending more time on smoking rooms considering that their salary comes from every JAPANESE CITIZEN pockets!!! and we are not responsible to feed those having addiction.

In my opinion the Governor and lawmakers should prohibit smoking in restaurants, bars and close establishment in Osaka.