More than 30% of Japanese dads take parental leave
The ratio of eligible male workers who took childcare leave in fiscal 2020 exceeded 30% in 42 of the country’s 100 leading companies.
Companies in Japan urged to innovate by business groups
Japan’s major business organisations want companies to spur economic growth, and to view the pandemic as a business opportunity.
Japan PM renews call to reverse salary downtrend
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has reiterated his call to business groups and unions to “boldly reverse” a downtrend in workers’ wages.
Companies in Japan optimistic about growth prospects in 2022
The majority of companies surveyed by Kyodo News expects Japan to register positive economic growth in 2022.
18% of Japan’s companies plan to raise salaries by 3% or more
Despite calls for firms to raise pay by more than 3%, only 18% have indicated that they will do so at the upcoming wage negotiations.
Smaller firms in Japan can transfer costs to larger businesses
This is to prevent larger firms from taking advantage of their size and setting unfairly low prices when engaging in business with subcontractors.
More workers in Japan leaving their jobs for better ones
This has seen the unemployment rate rise to 2.8% in November, an increase of 0.1 percentage point month-on-month.
Employment rate for Japan’s fresh graduates in 2021 falls again
The number of fresh graduates who landed jobs fell to 432,790, with employment offers declining in some sectors due to the spread of COVID-19.
Japan PM urges companies to increase wages next year
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he would do everything possible to create an environment for firms to raise wages.
Japan enacts additional budget to fund economic recovery package
To cover most of the supplementary budget, the government will have to issue new bonds worth 22.1 trillion yen by March 2021.
Major Japan business lobby says it will not set wage hike goal for businesses
However, the group will still encourage companies that have recovered their earnings to raise wages in line with government recommendations.
Majority of Japanese companies to freeze or cut wages next year
About 54% of companies plan to keep salaries, including bonuses, unchanged next fiscal year, 4% plan to cut them and 42% expect to raise wages.
Japan incentivises salary hikes with tax deduction
The government is encouraging smaller companies to raise staff salaries with tax deductions of up to 40%, and 30% for bigger companies.
Japan to raise premium for employment insurance
The government wants greater premium payments from employers and employees as the employment insurance system is running low on funds.
Japan’s largest labour organisation calls for 4% pay hike
In wage negotiations held earlier this year, businesses had agreed to an average 1.78% wage hike, in response to expectations of a 4% pay hike.
Japan’s unemployment rate falls to 2.7% in October
Government data has shown that the country’s jobless rate fell to 2.7% in October, decreasing by 0.1 percentage point month-on-month.
Japan mulls tax break for companies raising wages
The government is considering granting a tax break for companies which raise salaries of all employees, including new and non-regular workers.
Wage increases in Japan still suppressed by pandemic
A Japanese labour ministry survey has found that the prolonged pandemic is still dampening wage hikes for workers in affected sectors.
53.4% of Japan’s workers satisfied with job change
A recent government survey showed that slightly more than half of workers who have changed jobs have found more rewarding careers.
Japan announces US$490 billion stimulus package
The package has been reported to include cash support for small companies, as well as pay raises for nurses and care workers.
Japan to help non-regular workers switch careers
To help non-regular workers affected by the pandemic, several hundred billion yen has been set aside to implement a job-transfer-support project.
Japanese minister calls for firms with strong earnings to increase salaries
Chairman of the Japan Business Federation also backed the call, encouraging profit-earning firms to increase workers’ wages.
Japan PM promises stimulus package for pandemic relief
Cash payouts worth 100,000 yen (US$884) each will be delivered to students, temporary workers and low-income households hit hardest by COVID-19.
Japan business lobby wants commuting target to be revised
The government had earlier urged businesses to help achieve its target of cutting commuters by 70% and to support telework as an alternative.
Japan proposes stimulus package for companies raising wages
A governmental economic-policy panel has proposed a fresh stimulus package, including shoring up support for companies increasing employee salaries.
Largest business lobby in Japan calls for more female worker support
Keidanren aims to reduce the number of women who are forced to quit their jobs to care for their children or nursing care for their parents.
Japan’s top union leader vows for better worker wages and conditions
Tomoko Yoshino said that gender inequality is also interwoven into Japan’s tax and pension system, and is part of a wider problem on workers’ rights.
Japan to review COVID-19 subsidies for businesses
Officials are concerned that small and medium-sized firms in the country will grow to be overly depend on the subsidies.
Japan’s job availability improves in September
On October 1, the government lifted the country’s state of emergency amid a sharp drop in new COVID-19 cases, prompting businesses to hire staff.
Japan looks into distributing wage profits
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had vowed earlier to draw up an economic package worth “tens of trillions of yen” to revive the economy.