Kishida Pushes for Unprecedented Wage Increases

TOKYO, Jan 23 (News On Japan) - At the tripartite conference held on Monday, involving government, labor unions, and business leaders, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for wage increases exceeding last year's levels.

Prime Minister Kishida stated, "For this year's spring labor-management negotiations, considering the trends in prices, I request wage increases that surpass the levels of last year."

Emphasizing the pivotal moment for Japan's economy to either regress to deflation or completely break free from it, Kishida appealed for wage hikes that exceed the levels achieved last year by major corporations, the highest in 30 years.

Kishida requested the thorough implementation of guidelines on the pass-through of labor costs to prices, compiled last year, to 1,873 industry associations.

Following the meeting, Tokura, the representative of the business community and Chairman of Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), expressed the intention to continue wage increases exceeding the 2% target set by the government and the Bank of Japan.

The focus in the upcoming full-fledged "Shunto" (spring wage negotiations) will be on securing funds for wage increases, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises where 70% of workers are employed.

by Brian Dentry

Source: 日テレNEWS

Japanese Photographer Dies After Being Pushed in New York

A renowned Japanese photographer based in New York, Yasuomi Hashimura, known for his groundbreaking contributions to American advertising photography, died after being pushed on the street by a man.

Foreign Visitors to Japan Set to Hit All-Time High

Japan is on track to surpass its all-time annual record for foreign visitors, with over 30 million arrivals so far this year.

Student's Homemade Bomb Sparks School Lockdown in Sapporo

A suspicious object feared to be explosive was discovered at a high school in Sapporo on the afternoon of November 22nd, causing temporary chaos. The object was found to have been brought to the school by one of its students.

China to resume visa-exemptions for short-term Japanese travelers

China says it will resume allowing visa-free visits by Japanese nationals on short-term trips from the end of this month. (NHK)

Japan Grapples with Poverty and Rising 'Invisible Homeless'

Japan is facing a deepening crisis of poverty and inequality, with rising reports of 'invisible homeless' individuals and growing economic hardships among the population. Discussions over reforms to the country's tax and welfare systems have taken center stage, as policymakers grapple with how to provide meaningful support.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Crayon Shin-chan Landmark Store Shuts Down

A store featured as a model in the anime "Crayon Shin-chan" closed its doors on November 24th.

About 1,000 Nissan employees in US accept early retirement offers

Struggling Japanese automaker Nissan Motor says about 1,000 of its employees in the United States have accepted early retirement offers. That figure represents 6 percent of the firm's US workforce. (NHK)

Japan Allocates Budget for Securing Copper Mine Interests

The Japanese government plans to incorporate securing copper mine interests into its upcoming economic measures, according to a report by TV Tokyo. Copper, an essential material for electric vehicles (EVs), semiconductors, and data centers, faces increasing global demand, raising concerns over supply shortages.