In order to raise wages for small and medium-sized enterprises, where the outcome of negotiations during this year's spring labor union is attracting attention, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Saito met with the top executives of electronics manufacturers, and asked small and medium-sized enterprises that do business with them to pay for increased costs. We requested that they comply with the price pass-through.
On the morning of the 27th, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Saito met with the top management of each company, including Keiji Kojima, president of Hitachi, Ltd., who serves as the chairman of JEITA (Electronics and Information Technology Industry Association), which is made up of electronics manufacturers and others.
In this regard, Minister Saito said, ``We are seeing a stronger movement for wage increases than last year, and we need to spread this momentum to small and medium-sized enterprises.I hope that the attitude of promoting price pass-through throughout the supply chain will spread.'' is important.”
Furthermore, a survey by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency found that despite the rise in costs in the electronics industry, approximately 20% of small and medium-sized enterprises have kept their transaction prices unchanged. We requested that you respond to the request.
In response, President Kojima said, ``The IT and electronics industry provides products and services to society as a whole, supported by the cutting-edge technology of many business partners, including small and medium-sized enterprises. We have worked hard to secure this, and we will continue to work to ensure that prices are passed on appropriately."
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to work with the Fair Trade Commission to further ensure price pass-through measures.