Society

Survey Reveals Wage Gains Not Matching Inflation

TOKYO, Apr 29 (News On Japan) - A recent study by the Rengo Research Institute, which focuses on labor issues, has revealed that only a little over 6% of workers report their wage increases have exceeded the rate of inflation.

The study surveyed 2,000 workers in the Greater Tokyo and Kansai areas.

Only 6.6% of respondents stated that their wage increase over the past year was greater than the rise in prices, while 60% reported that their wage increase was smaller.

This highlights the issue that, despite significant wage increases negotiated in recent spring wage negotiations, these have not kept pace with the cost of living increases.

Additionally, 50% of male respondents and 60% of female respondents noted that prices have "risen considerably" compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, 41.3% of respondents feel a labor shortage at their workplaces, with the number rising to over half (50.5%) in the construction industry.

Source: ANN

Japan to Tighten Age Verification Rules for Social Media

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on April 22 presented a draft outline of key issues to an expert panel examining protections for minors on social networking services, taking a cautious stance toward blanket age-based access restrictions that have been increasingly introduced overseas.

Japan's Bus Driver Shortage Deepens

Japan is turning to foreign workers to address a deepening shortage of bus drivers that has led to route suspensions and reduced services nationwide, including in Tokyo. With the industry projected to face a shortfall of 36,000 drivers by 2030, operators are beginning to recruit and train overseas talent as a short-term solution to keep public transport running.

Four Japanese Crew Members Disembark in Persian Gulf, 16 Remain

Four more Japanese crew members have disembarked from Japan-related vessels staying in the Persian Gulf, reducing the number of Japanese nationals still aboard ships in the area to 16.

Japan's Answer to Dangerous Sewer Pipes

Road cave-ins are occurring one after another across Japan. According to a survey released on April 22 by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, so-called dangerous sewer lines requiring urgent countermeasures now total 748 kilometers nationwide.

Japan to Allow Overseas Sales of Lethal Weapons

The Japanese government on April 21 revised the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and related guidelines, in principle allowing the export of weapons with lethal capabilities. The move marks a major turning point in Japan's postwar security policy.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Gold Medalists Attend Imperial Spring Garden Party with 1,400 Guests

The Emperor and Empress hosted the annual Spring Garden Party on April 17 at Akasaka Imperial Garden in Moto-Akasaka, Tokyo, welcoming around 1,400 guests including gold medalists from the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, distinguished figures from various fields and local government representatives.