August 25, 2023

The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) on August 24 announced two campaigns which will start this autumn: a campaign for law revisions to realize a nationally-uniform minimum hourly wage system and one for the promotion of gender equality.

Zenroren Secretary General Kurosawa Koichi at a press conference in Tokyo said that the campaign for legal revisions is aimed at having a revision bill enacted in the ordinary Diet session next year so that a minimum hourly wage of 1,500 yen across the board can be implemented.

Noting that the national average in the minimum hourly wage has recently increased by 43 yen to 1,004 yen, Kurosawa said, "The level is still too low for many people to make ends meet." He pointed out that regional gaps of up to 220 yen still remain.

Kurosawa explained that Zenroren will call on all its member organizations to create an action plan on gender equality.

Past related article:
> Labor Ministry panel recommends minimum hourly wage of over 1,000 yen but allows further widening of regional gaps [July 29, 2023]