In January 2017, MC received the Platinum Kurumin Certification from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The Platinum Kurumin Certification is awarded to Kurumin-certified companies that have implemented measures to support employees’ childcare needs at a higher standard.At MC, childcare benefits include both maternal welfare and childcare support. MC has been working to create processes as well as an environment that supports employees with children. Specifically, MC has ensured that its Maternity/Paternity Leave exceeds Japan’s minimum legal requirements, and has introduced other measures to help employees returning from Maternity/Paternity Leave to comfortably balance their parenting and work responsibilities. These include a flex-time system as well as shortened or staggered work hours. MC has also made it easier for male employees to take advantage of these benefits, such as by lifting the restriction that previously did not allow employees’ spouses access to full-time childcare, and also by introducing MC’s Paid Spousal Childbirth Leave. As a result of these and other measures to support work-life balance, MC has received Kurumin certification from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare continuously since 2008, in recognition of the action plan it has formulated and implemented to support employees’ childcare needs.