EXCLUSIVE: Manufacturers to Seek Pay Hikes of at Least 12,000 Yen

Tokyo, Nov. 27 (Jiji Press)--A group of labor unions at Japanese manufacturers aims to seek pay scale hikes of at least 12,000 yen per month in next year's "shunto" spring wage negotiations, Jiji Press learned Wednesday.
 

The Japan Council of Metalworkers' Unions, the umbrella body for unions at automakers, electronics manufacturers and others, is set to make its largest demand since the current method of specifying the size of pay scale increases was adopted in 1998.
 

It hopes to maintain momentum for wage increases by making another big demand, after a pay scale hike of 10,000 yen per month sought in this year's shunto. The upcoming demand is expected to be formally adopted Tuesday.
 

The JCM comprises five industry-specific labor groups--the Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers' Unions, the Japanese Electrical, Electronic & Information Union, the Japan Federation of Basic Industry Workers' Unions, the Japanese Association of Metal, Machinery and Manufacturing Workers, and the Japan Federation of Electric Wire Workers' Unions--with a total of about 2 million members.
 

The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo, the country's labor union national center, is set to demand pay hikes of at least 5 pct, also including regular raises, in the 2025 shunto.
 

Japan held a meeting of government, labor and management representatives Tuesday to discuss achieving higher wages. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba considers realizing wage hikes that outpace inflation to be a key policy goal.
 

Although many Japanese unions have won large wage hikes in recent shunto, real wages in the country remain stagnant. The JCM likely decided that it needs to boost its pay hike demand further as many people are struggling with inflation.
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