7th sit-in calling for minimum hourly wage of 1,000 yen

Union workers from National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and other unions on July 24 carried out a sit-in calling for a uniform minimum hourly wage of 1,000 yen (9 dollars).

Their action, the 7th in front of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, was organized to protest against the Central Minimum Wages Council's recommendation not to increase local minimum wages.

Speaking at a rally before the sit-in, the Zenroren vice president emphasized that a uniform minimum hourly wage of 1,000 yen can break the vicious circle of deflation-caused recession.

Japan, the world's second largest economy, lacks a national minimum wage system which most European countries have. The average of regional minimum hourly wage is 664 yen (5 dollars), which is even lower than the poverty line, holding down wages in general. (end)