Annual Wages for National Public Employees Decline for Third Straight Year

On August 8, the National Personnel Authority submitted to the Diet and Cabinet a recommendation on salary payments to national public employees. The recommendation is based on a survey of wages paid by some 7,500 private corporations this April. In view of the influence on the private sector of the continuing recession, the Authority recommended a freeze in base salary increases for the second straight year and a reduction in bonus payments for the third straight year. The Authority recommended bonus payments this year to be reduced by 0.05 months' worth of salary and advised that the 3,756 yen shortfall in annual wages compared with private enterprises be made up for by payments made at the end of the fiscal year in March 2002.

According to the recommendation, Vice-Minister will be paid 25,707,000 yen (-107,000 yen) , Director-Generals will be paid 19,576,000 yen (-82,000 yen); a Director (age 45) will be paid 11,821,000 yen (-35,000 yen) and a Manager (age 40) will be paid 6,178,000 yen (-16,000 yen).

The National Personnel Authority's recommendation system has been implemented since 1948 because, regarding wages, under Japanese law, national public employees are denied collective bargaining rights and the right to strike. The Authority's recommendations are designed to conform closely with the salaries paid by private enterprises.

National Personnel Authority;
http://www.jinji.go.jp/top_e.htm