May 05 (South China Morning Post) - Over half of small and mid-sized companies in Japan plan to raise salaries this year amid a labour crunch and record inflation, according to a survey by the Japan Chamber of Commerce.
Wages in Japan have crept up recently, as companies face pressure to compensate employees for cost of living increases. However, small- and medium-sized businesses have to cope with surging material costs and a more unpredictable margin, making it challenging for them to pay workers.