(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 19th, comprehensive foreign news report) As of today, 30 prefectures in Japan have determined the minimum wage increase in 2026. Among them, there are 17 counties where the increase amount exceeds the reference standard set by the "Central Minimum Wage Council".
Jiji News Agency reported that although the minimum wage has been raised in many regions, the amount of the increase is only between 1 and 4 yen (equivalent to NT$0.2 to 0.8 NT$), which has shrunk compared to the previous year, which was as high as 18 yen (approximately NT$4). The effective date is also expected to remain in October, which is normal in previous years, and the overheated competition for price increases is showing a easing trend.
The standard for the minimum wage paid to workers by Japanese industries is based on the "Central Minimum Wage Council", an advisory body of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan, and is determined by agreements between labor and management in each locality. However, this situation results in high and low minimum wages in various localities. Japan began to use hourly wages to express minimum wages in 2002.
The "Central Minimum Wage Council" raised the reference standard in July, with A-level areas such as Tokyo raising it by 54 yen; B-level areas such as Hokkaido and Nagano, and C-level areas such as Akita and Okinawa raising it by 56 yen.
The "Local Minimum Wage Council" of each prefecture discusses the specific adjustment amount based on this standard. Among the 17 prefectures mentioned above, Miyagi and Tottori were 4 yen higher than the reference standard, with a total increase of 60 yen. The converted hourly wages reached 1,098 yen (approximately NT$221) and 1,090 yen (approximately NT$219) respectively.
The "Akita Local Minimum Wage Council" decided on the 18th to raise the minimum wage by 59 yen, which is 3 yen higher than the reference standard, and finally settled at 1,090 yen. Last year, Akita Prefecture significantly exceeded the reference standard of 16 yen, raising it to 80 yen. In order to give companies time to prepare, the effective date was significantly postponed to the end of March this year; this increase is expected to take effect on October 14.
"The loss of young generations to the metropolitan area is a major issue, and we hope to narrow the wage gap with Tokyo and other places as much as possible," said Usuki Tomoaki, chairman of the Akita Local Minimum Wage Council.
The report pointed out that the reason behind the easing of competition for increases is that the Japanese central government has softened its attitude, which is equivalent to delaying the goal of "achieving a national average of 1,500 yen (approximately NT$302) in the 2020s".
In addition, the "Central Minimum Wage Review Council" pointed out that in order to avoid being "last" in the country's minimum wage, it is "not appropriate" for some regions to raise the minimum wage to a level that is out of touch with local actual conditions, and this suggestion is also considered to have a certain impact on policy.
On the other hand, Yamanashi Prefecture Governor Nagasaki Kotaro attended the prefectural review meeting and requested that an increase in the minimum wage be actively studied, saying that "it is difficult to maintain a living with the current minimum wage."
