Key Facts
• On December 1, 2025, the minimum wage in the region will increase to ¥1,023.
• The Minimum Wage Council proposed a ¥71 increase from the current ¥952 last month.
• Employers requested delaying the implementation to March 31, 2026, citing business pressures.
• Workers demanded immediate enforcement and discussions on raising the wage to ¥1,500.
• A council vote on September 11, 2025, resulted in a tie on whether to reexamine the decision.
• Chairperson Junko Uezu concluded no reexamination was needed, affirming the December 1 date.
• The new minimum wage is expected to take effect as scheduled in December 2025.
Summary
The Minimum Wage Council has finalized a ¥71 increase to the regional minimum wage, setting it at ¥1,023 starting December 1, 2025. This decision follows debates between employers, who argued the hike would strain business operations, and workers, who pushed for immediate implementation and further discussions on raising the wage to ¥1,500. A tied vote on September 11, 2025, regarding a potential reexamination left the decision to Chairperson Junko Uezu, who upheld the original timeline. The new wage is now set to take effect as planned, marking a significant step in wage policy adjustments.
