TOKYO: A Japanese female politician who brought her baby into an assembly meeting to highlight the issues women face in the workplace has sparked debate after being ejected from the chamber. Yuka Ogata took her seven-month-old son to join a municipal assembly session of southern Kumamoto city on
TOKYO: A Japanese female politician who brought her baby into an assembly meeting to highlight the issues women face in the workplace has sparked debate after being ejected from the chamber.
Yuka Ogata took her seven-month-old son to join a municipal assembly session of southern Kumamoto city on Wednesday (Nov 22), but other lawmakers asked her to leave, according to local media.
« Under the rules, only politicians, staff members and city officials can go on to the assembly floor, » an official at Kumamoto City Assembly told AFP on Friday.
The assembly was delayed for 40 minutes. Ogata joined after leaving the child with a friend, according to public broadcaster NHK.
« Apparently she told the chairman that she wanted to create a woman-friendly work environment, » the official said.
Her move has sparked debate online with supporters saying she was brave and opponents questioning if it was a good idea to bring a baby to a workplace.
