TOKYO - Japan's largest labor union said Thursday it will demand a wage hike of around 6 percent, with a minimum of 5 percent, in next spring's annual labor-management negotiations amid prolonged inflation.
Although the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, also known as Rengo, achieved its target of wage hikes of 5 percent or more for three consecutive years through the 2026 "shunto" wage talks and real wages turned positive, it noted that "only a small number of people feel their standard of living has improved."
Given the rising cost of living, the union decided a further wage increase was necessary and set a new midpoint target of 6 percent in its basic policy for the 2027 wage talks.
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