Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan’s largest trade union confederation marched in Tokyo toward the Japanese parliament in support of social workers who are demanding that hourly pay be increased to 1,500 yen (about $13) for the sector’s minimum wages.

Since the pandemic spread, the prices of necessities have increased, making life more difficult for people with low incomes.

The “Zenroren” confederation leader, led by Masako Obata, addressed the Japanese government in February ahead of the vote on the budget for the next fiscal year.

She pointed out that employees such as nurses and childcare workers had extremely low salaries and that despite Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s promise to raise salaries during his inauguration speech, the promised increase would not be enough.

Union members say that wages have generally fallen in Japan this century and that large Japanese companies have increased their annual profits.