Photo/Illutration Farm minister Taku Eto speaks at a news conference. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the farm ministry will allow more staff to work from home or stagger their starting times to avoid packed commutes in the morning.

The new measures will start from next week, Taku Eto, the minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, said at his Feb. 21 news conference.

Farm ministry bureaucrats were allowed to work off site if they submitted requests, but from next week those falling in other categories will also be encouraged to work from home.

The new categories are those who have chronic pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes; pregnant employees; those living with preschool children or senior citizens; and those who are not feeling 100 percent.

Moreover, two new starting times will be added from next week. Until now, ministry officials could choose from among 8:30 a.m., 9 a.m. or 9:30 a.m., but 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. will be the new times.

The move is intended to allow ministry officials to avoid commuting during the morning rush hours.

Ministry officials believe that about 800 bureaucrats, or one-sixth of the total who work at the ministry, will choose one of the two new starting times.

“I want ministry staff to feel that taking a day off now is also part of work,” Eto said.

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