TOKYO: The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo, held an annual May Day rally in Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park on Saturday, reaffirming that union members and others will work together to improve workers’ livelihoods.

The 95th May Day central convention came after this year’s “shunto” spring labor-management negotiations resulted in high wage increases.

“I am very encouraged that the trend of wage increases, which is much stronger than last year, has been achieved,” Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio said in a speech. He attended the event for the second consecutive year.

“Let’s make proper reflection of labor and other costs in prices a common business practice,” Rengo President YOSHINO Tomoko said.

About 28,800 people participated in the May Day event, according to organizers.

Among the participants were opposition leaders IZUMI Kenta of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and TAMAKI Yuichiro of the Democratic Party for the People, as well as Tokyo Governor KOIKE Yuriko.

“We will change the politics that focus on making money and work hard to improve your livelihoods,” Izumi said.

The event concluded with the adoption of a declaration calling for the promotion of equal labor-management relations and the realization of a society in which peace and human rights are respected and everyone can live in peace.

The declaration also included support activities for areas affected by the massive Noto Peninsula earthquake in central Japan on Jan. 1.

At the site of the May Day event, a booth was set up to sell specialties from Ishikawa Prefecture, which was hit hard by the quake. Part of the sales will be donated to support reconstruction following the disaster.

JIJI Press