Growth in Japan FY 2017 minimum hourly wages to tie record

August 18, 2017

TOKYO- The average minimum hourly wage in Japan will rise 25 yen from the previous year to 848 yen for fiscal 2017, tying its record increase, set in the previous year, on the back of labor shortages across the country, the labor ministry said Thursday.

The average growth will exceed the government's target of 3 pct for the second straight year. The new minimum wages will become effective in each prefecture from as early as Sept. 30.

Based on a ministry panel's recommendation for a hike of 25 yen, related councils of the 47 prefectures reached conclusions on revisions to the prefectural minimum wages by Thursday. Most of the prefectures decided to follow the recommendation. Jiji Press