Japan’s prime minister wants to boost the number of after-school childcare workers by 300,000 people in five years’ time.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the goal at an after-school facility today.

Abe has put women’s participation in the workforce at the heart of his Abenomics policies.

To do so he wants to make it easier for dual-income couples to place small children in daycare.

Abe will reportedly include the target in a growth strategy to be unveiled next month.