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20070627-YS-TELECOMMUTE-20070627

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Jun. 27--TOKYO -- The government plans to set up a telecommuting experiment later this year using a free computer system in an attempt to increase the number of people working from home, it was learned Wednesday.
It intends to solicit applications next month from private companies interested in being one of the 100 firms participating in the three- to four-month experiment ending in March.

Both the advantages of telecommuting, such as increased leisure time, and the disadvantages, such as hindrance to work practices, will be examined.

The government hopes the experiment will be useful in creating future telecommuting systems and increasing the public's awareness of such systems.

In the experiment, to be conducted jointly by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, a system that connects company computers with employees' personal computers will be set up free of charge.

The system will provide employees with the opportunity to do work such as creating documents, writing business reports or even holding meetings from home or while on business trips.

However, concerns have been raised over data security -- such as preventing leaks of customer information -- when work is done outside the office.

As such, all communication will be coded, and safety measures such as ensuring internal documents are not left on employees' computers will be implemented. Devices such as USB keys will be used to verify user identities.
By having many companies participate in the experiment, the government hopes telecommuting will spread to a variety of firms, rather than just a few companies such as major information technology firms that are already using the system.

The government believes telecommuting will be useful in expanding career opportunities for women with children, elderly people and handicapped people, creating more chances for people to secure work in regional areas and helping people realize a better work-life balance.
 
It has set a target of doubling the percentage of the workforce that telecommutes from about 10 percent in 2005 to about 20 percent in 2010.

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