Japan Press Weekly

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2016 April 13 - 19 TOP3 [LABOR]

Young Japanese workers join in global day of action for minimum wage hike

As part of the global day of action seeking higher wages for fast-food workers and a minimum wage hike, young Japanese workers and union activists, including members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Youth Union, on April 15 staged a day of action in Tokyo’s shopping district of Shibuya.

“Raise the minimum hourly wage to at least 1,500 yen!” is the main slogan for the Japanese campaign.

Traveling from Hokkaido’s Sapporo City to participate in the action, 24-year-old nutritionist Iwasaki Yui said, “In Hokkaido, the regional minimum wage is 764 yen per hour while in Tokyo, it stands at 907 yen. This regional minimum wage gap leads to the regional income gap. It’s unfair. I’m angry at the current minimum wages which fall far short of a decent living wage.”

The global action for a $15 minimum hourly wage (about 1,640 yen), also known as the “Fight for $15” campaign, was initiated by the U.S. labor movement and takes place annually. This year’s action was held in 300 cities in 40 countries worldwide.

Past related article:
> Zenroren in global ‘Fight for $15’ action calls for drastic increase in Japan’s minimum wage [April 16, 2015]