Tokyo, Nov. 6 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s inflation-adjusted real wage index rose 2.2 pct in September from a year earlier, marking its ninth consecutive monthly increase, labor ministry data showed Friday. The growth was driven not only by increases in base pay resulting from “shunto” spring wage negotiations but also by a slower pace of inflation than a year earlier. Real wages in Japan rose for nine consecutive months for the first time since the 12-month streak from February 2016 to January 2017. Nominal wages per worker, including base pay and overtime, climbed 4.6 pct to 311,409 yen, according to the preliminary data covering businesses with five or more employees. Regular pay, mainly comprising base salaries, grew 3.7 pct to 279,182 yen, marking an increase of 3 pct or more for the ninth straight month. The consumer price index excluding imputed rent, used to calculate the real wage index, was up 2.4 pct, down from a 3.4 pct increase a year earlier. Nominal wages for full-time workers, such as regular employees, increased 5.0 pct to 401,722 yen on average, while those for part-time workers climbed 4.2 pct to 114,412 yen. Average hourly pay for part-time workers rose 5.4 pct to 1,463 yen. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
