Tokyo: Minimum hourly wages in 24 of Japan’s 47 prefectures are set to be raised higher than 39-41 yen as suggested for fiscal 2023 by an advisory panel to the government, amid soaring prices and labor shortages.

In the year that began last April, the weighted nationwide average of minimum wages will rise by 43 yen from the previous year to 1,004 yen, the labor ministry said Friday.

Minimum wages will exceed 1,000 yen in eight prefectures, up from three in fiscal 2022.

The new minimum wages will take effect in stages beginning October 1.

Shimane and Saga will raise their minimum wages by 47 yen, the largest and 7-8 yen more than suggested. The new minimum wages will be 904 yen in Shimane and 900 yen in Saga.

Among other prefectures with the lowest current minimum wages of 853 yen, Okinawa will implement a rise of 43 yen to 896 yen, Akita and Miyazaki will have an increase of 44 yen to 897 yen, while Aomori and Nagasaki will boost the level by 45 yen to 898 yen.

Tokyo will continue to have the highest minimum wages in the country, as it plans a hike of 41 yen to 1,113 yen. Kanagawa will follow with a new minimum wage of 1,112 yen, up 41 yen.

Iwate will raise its minimum wages by 39 yen to 893 yen, the lowest in the country. The gap between the highest and lowest minimum wages will widen to 220 yen from 219 yen in fiscal 2022.

Prefectural councils decide minimum wages based on recommendations by the Central Minimum Wages Council, which advises the labor minister.

The central council divided the country’s 47 prefectures into three ranks based on their economic situations and other factors. It recommended a minimum wage hike of 41 yen for the top tier, including Tokyo and Kanagawa, 40 yen for the middle tier, including Kyoto and Hyogo, and 39 yen for the bottom tier, including Iwate and Okinawa.

JIJI Press