Revised Regional Minimum Wages for Fiscal 2001
On September 3, the Ministry of Health, Labour
and Welfare (MHLW) announced revised regional
minimum wages for fiscal 2001. The average
weighted minimum wage for the nation was
5,292 yen per day, a 36 yen increase over
the previous year. The minimum hourly wage
was 664 yen, a five yen increase. By percentage,
the daily wage increased by 0.68% while the
hourly wage increased by 0.76%.
The revised minimum wages were determined
at regional minimum wage councils comprised
of representatives from the government, employers,
and labor at each of the 47 prefectures,
and were based on guidelines presented by
the central government's minimum wage council.
The daily minimum wage was the highest in
Osaka at 5,598 yen and lowest in Miyazaki
at 4,828 yen. The minimum hourly wage was
highest in Tokyo at 708 yen.
Minimum wages in Japan are set by region
and by industry. Because of the recent recession,
raises in minimum wages have been extremely
small.