Japanese workers accept lack of pay hike, says trade union leader

It is important to change the deflationary mindset among Japanese workers, said Tomoko Yoshino, president of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, known otherwise as Rengo. 

“The deep-rooted problem is that workers find it normal to be given no pay hike,” said Yoshino, who added that raising wages is a “corporate duty.”

The focus on Japan’s wage talks this year is on how far income distribution can be realised, as businesses hit hard by the pandemic are struggling to even maintain employment, writes The Japan Times. 

In this year’s wage talks, Rengo is aiming for salary hikes of around 4%, including pay scale raises of around 2% and regular wage hikes. 

READ: Japan continues to debate feasibility of wage hike

A number of Japanese unions plan to demand pay scale increases equal to levels before the onslaught of the pandemic. These include the Japanese Electrical, Electronic and Information Union, a federation of labour unions, and UA Zensen, a union covering industries such as textile, chemicals, logistics and restaurants, according to the publication.