A ``labor-management forum'' was held to explain the policy of raising wages in this year's spring labor offensive, and Keidanren Chairman Tokura said, ``I don't remember a time when consideration of price trends was so strongly demanded.'' ", and called for positive consideration of wage increases.
This year's spring labor offensive has virtually started on the 23rd, and on the 24th, a ``Labor-Management Forum'' is being held in Tokyo where executives of the ``Keidanren'' and ``Rengo'' will explain their policies on wage increases.
Keidanren Chairman Tokura commented, "I don't think I remember a time when wage negotiations were so strongly demanded to consider price trends. This is a critical moment and a great opportunity to create a virtuous cycle between wages and prices. We are positioned," he said, confirming the importance of raising the base salary and calling for positive consideration of wage increases.
In the afternoon, Chairman Yoshino of RENGO will give a lecture, saying, "One of the major causes of the stagnation of the Japanese economy is that we have neglected to invest in people, and we have changed the stage to an economy where wages continue to rise. I will explain my policy of asking for a wage increase of around 5%, the level since 1995.
In this year's spring labor union, labor unions such as automobiles will submit a request form in February and negotiations will get into full swing.
As prices continue to rise to record levels, the focus is on whether wage increases will spread, including among small and medium-sized enterprises, and to what extent the rate of wage increases will increase.