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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Zenroren movement wins minimum wage increase in all prefectures

The minimum wage has been raised in all 47 prefectures in 2005, thanks to the strenuous movement nationwide led by trade unions affiliated with the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren).

In Japan, where there is no national minimal wage, and each prefecture determines the amount of their minimum wage.

The increased ranges from 1 yen to 5 yen. The highest minimum hourly wage is Tokyo's 714 yen (about 6.5 US dollars), and the lowest is at 608 yen (about 5.5 US dollars) in eight prefectures including Okinawa.

Deguchi Kenji, secretary of the Hokkaido Federation of Trade Unions, said, "After no increase in 2003, we had a 3-yen increase in 2004 and 5-yen increase in 2005. We feel the movement is developing."

Various trials were made in many places in which volunteers experience living exclusively on the minimum wage. In some prefectures, nearly 40 percent of volunteers were not trade union members. Analyzing their dietary records, nutritionists warned that such a diet for over 3 months on the minimum wage may cause health problems.

The workers' movement has revealed that the minimum wage system involves contradictions in that the amount is often lower than the standards for livelihood protection. Workers and citizens organized monitoring of prefectural councils mandated to end their discussions on the minimum wages by the end of August.

Zenroren is criticizing the low standards of the minimum wage for being inconsistent with the business conditions and job offers of an hourly wage of 850 yen.

In contrast, the Health, Welfare and Welfare Ministry is planning to submit a report recommending that the industry-wide minimum wages, which are set at higher levels than prefectural ones, be abolished. -- Akahata, September 17, 2005