July 20, 2022

Union activists of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and independent unions participating in the People's Spring Struggle Joint Committee on July 19 held a rally near the venue of a meeting of the Labor Ministry’s Central Minimum Wage Council to appeal for the need to immediately increase the national minimum wage to 1,500 yen per hour to help people survive the ongoing price surge.

In the rally, union representatives spoke and stressed the significance of a substantial raise in the minimum wage.

Vice Secretary General of the National Federation of Consumers' Cooperatives Workers' Unions (Seikyo-roren) Watanabe Rika said, “Kochi’s minimum wage is 820 yen, the lowest level in Japan. However, the Zenroren’s living wage survey shows that in Kochi, the amount of workers’ hourly earnings necessary to cover their basic needs is 1,660 yen, more than twice as much as the current minimum wage level.” She called for a substantial increase in the minimum wage.

Zenroren women’s section chief Terazono Michie said, “When looking at other countries, Australia, for example, will increase its minimum wage to 2,000 yen. Japan should raise the minimum wage, which will work to reduce the gender pay gap.”

Zenroren Secretary General Kurosawa Koichi pointed out, “Amid skyrocketing prices, if the council proposes a 3% minimum wage hike just like last year, this will be totally inadequate.” He stressed that under the situation in which workers’ wages have shown no growth for decades, a considerable minimum wage hike will have great positive impact. He added, “Let us work to push the Central Minimum Wage Council to accept our demand for a substantial minimum wage increase and a reduction in regional minimum wage gaps with financial support included for smaller businesses.”

Past related article:
> Zenroren survey proves unions’ demand for minimum hourly wage increase to 1,500 yen has legitimacy [June 25, 2022]