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‘Work, Work, Work’ stops at 60 in Japan. It shouldn’t

The country is notorious for toiling hard and yet its labour laws make it harder for older workers to fully contribute.

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Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi heads a country that often denies many older workers the opportunity to fully contribute.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi heads a country that often denies many older workers the opportunity to fully contribute.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Gearoid Reidy

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After being

elected head of Japan’s ruling party

, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s pledge to “work, work, work, work, work” for the people made such an impact that, even in a nation known for toiling hard, it was voted “buzzword of the year”.

It’s ironic, then, that she heads a country that often denies many older workers the opportunity to fully contribute.

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