Japan's government panel has proposed raising the national average minimum wage by 63 yen (about 6%), the biggest increase ever. If local governments follow this plan, the average hourly wage will go up from 1,055 yen to 1,118 yen, and every prefecture in Japan will have a minimum wage over 1,000 yen for the first time.
Currently, minimum wages vary by region. The panel split the 47 prefectures into three groups based on economic conditions. Group A (like Tokyo) and Group B will see a 63-yen increase, while Group C (like Okinawa) will get 64 yen.
Right now, 31 prefectures still have wages under 1,000 yen—Akita has the lowest at 951 yen. But under this new plan, even those will rise past 1,000 yen. Tokyo and Kanagawa are expected to go above 1,200 yen. The new wages will start taking effect in October.
by MagazineKey4532