Japan tightened gender-equality laws to ban indirect forms of discrimination against women including expectant mothers as it seeks to combat a slumping birth rate. Parliament approved the revisions to the landmark 1986 Equal Employment Law, which barred gender discrimination in offices and led to a boom in the number of Japanese women in the workplace. The revised law, which takes effect in April, bans bosses from indirect discrimination such as setting unnecessary physical conditions, including weight or appearance, as criteria for hiring or promotion. It also makes it illegal for employers to urge pregnant workers to quit or accept other positions. Japan offers generous maternity leave, but women complain they are frequently encouraged to quit or told their jobs have disappeared when they return to the workplace...more...