Regarding the government's goal of raising the minimum wage to 1,500 yen by the mid-2030s, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Takemi said that the trend of wage increases should spread, taking into account the trend of the spring labor unions, which resulted in the highest wage increase rate in 33 years. He expressed his intention to work hard to achieve this goal as quickly as possible.
In order to achieve sustainable wage increases that outpace inflation, the government has set a goal of raising the national minimum wage, which exceeded 1,000 yen per hour on average nationwide last year, to 1,500 yen by the mid-2030s.
Regarding this, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Takemi stated at the House of Councilors Budget Committee on the 19th that, in light of the trends in the spring labor union, which, according to Rengo's tally, resulted in the highest wage increase rate in 33 years, ``we need to ensure a steady flow of wage increases. It is important to have a commitment to raising wages."
He added, ``If we can spread the wage increase to small and medium-sized enterprises and create a virtuous cycle of better economic conditions, it will become more certainly possible to raise the minimum wage in each region. However, we need to work to raise the minimum wage as soon as possible."