Latest news with #andWelfare
3 days ago
- Business
Japan's Minimum Wages Rise Again
Japan Data The national average of all prefectural minimum wages in Japan is set to rise by ¥63 to ¥1,118, with hourly pay climbing above ¥1,000 in all prefectures. On August 4, a subcommittee of the Central Minimum Wages Council submitted a report to Minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare Fukuoka Takamaro, advising that the minimum wage (on a national average basis) should be raised by a record ¥63 in fiscal 2025. This is significantly higher than the rise of ¥43 in fiscal 2023 and ¥51 in fiscal 2024, and will be the largest increase since the method of indicating wages on an hourly basis was adopted in fiscal 2002. If the increase goes ahead as expected, it will raise the national average hourly minimum wage from ¥1,055 to ¥1,118. The subcommittee's guidelines divide prefectures into three categories according to their economic conditions. An hourly minimum wage increase of ¥63 was set for the six prefectures in Category A, which includes Tokyo and Osaka, and the 28 prefectures in Category B (including Hokkaidō, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka), while it was ¥64 for the 13 prefectures in Category C (including Akita and Okinawa). This was the first time the wage hike was highest in Category C, with the aim of addressing economic disparities, as well as the severe labor shortages in these areas. The council in each prefecture will decide the exact amount of the wage increases based on guidelines; new wage floors will be introduced from around October 2025. The new minimum wage will be ¥1,226 in Tokyo and ¥1,225 in Kanagawa, exceeding ¥1,200 for the first time. It will also be over ¥1,100 in the prefectures of Saitama, Chiba, Aichi, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyōgo, in Japan's three major metropolitan areas. At its lowest it will be around ¥1,000 to ¥1,050 in a number of prefectures, mainly in Tōhoku, Kyūshū, and Shikoku. Japan's government has set a target of raising the national average minimum wage to ¥1,500 during the 2020s; to achieve this, an annual hike of 7.3% is required. However, there have been difficulties in reaching agreement between labor and management on large raises. In the most recent talks, seven rounds of discussions were needed by the council for the first time in 44 years, and the recommendation fell short of the target level. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has stated that he would like to provide focused support for employers when minimum wages are raised above the government's target level. Data Sources Data on the minimum wage in fiscal 2025 (Japanese) and fiscal 2024 (Japanese) from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. (Translated from Japanese: Banner photo © Pixta.)
7 days ago
- Health
Japan Recognizes Record Number of Deaths and Health Disorders Related to Overwork in Fiscal 2024
According to data compiled by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, there were 1,304 recognized cases of overwork-related deaths (karōshi) and health disorders in fiscal 2024, up 196 year on year. Of these, 247 involved strokes or heart conditions, and 1,057 depression and other mental health disorders. This is the first time that more than 1,000 cases of work-related mental health disorders have been recognized. Among these, 89 involved suicide or attempted suicide. Power Harassment the Most Common Cause In the breakdown of the 1,055 cases of mental health disorders that were recognized as work-related, the most common cause was 'abuse of power from superiors or others' accounting for 224 cases, followed by 'major change in duties or amount of work' at 119, 'customer harassment' (abusive behavior by customers or business clients) at 108, 'sexual harassment' at 105, and 'experiencing or witnessing tragic accidents or disasters in relation to work' at 87. By gender, there were 552 men and 503 women, while over 90% were aged from 20 to 59. Those in their forties made up the largest group at 283, but no single age group stood out significantly. By industry, the highest number of cases was in 'healthcare and welfare' at 270, followed by 'manufacturing' at 161, 'wholesale and retail' at 120, 'transportation and postal services' with 110, and 'construction' at 81. Data Sources (Translated from Japanese. Banner photo © Pixta.)
Hans India
03-08-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Farmer Welfare is main priority for govt: Farooq
Nandyal: The welfare of farmers is the top priority of the Andhra Pradesh government, and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is working tirelessly to support the farming community, said State Minority, Law, and Welfare Minister NM Farooq. Speaking at the district-level launch of Annadata Sukhibhava and PM-KISAN schemes held at Bugga Rameshwaram Temple in Kanal village, Nandyal Mandal on Saturday, the Minister stated that never before in the country have such comprehensive schemes been implemented for farmers. As part of the first installment for the 2025–26 financial year, Rs 7,000 (Rs.5,000 under Annadata Sukhibhava and Rs 2,000 under PM-KISAN) was deposited into the bank accounts of each eligible farmer. He highlighted that the government is committed to ensuring Minimum Support Prices (MSP), compensation for crop loss through insurance, supply of subsidized farm inputs via Rythu Bharosa Kendras, and promotion of mechanized farming practices. He cautioned farmers against excessive use of urea, stating that only two bags per acre should be used to protect soil fertility and public health. He also noted the improved irrigation infrastructure in the region, crediting the vision of late NT Rama Rao and the leadership of Naidu for transforming the region into a flourishing agricultural hub. District Collector G Raja Kumari added that under both schemes, farmers owning over 10 cents of land receive annual aid of Rs 20,000 in three installments. So far, Rs.140.57 crore has been disbursed to 2,06,052 farmers in the district. She urged farmers to register their crops on the e-Crop platform, complete eKYC, and link Aadhaar to their bank accounts to ensure smooth delivery of benefits. Farmers who have not received payments can approach village secretariats for redressal. She also encouraged eligible households to utilize the PM Surya Ghar Yojana for rooftop solar panels, which come with government subsidies and bank loan support.
14-07-2025
- Politics
Welfare Ministry: Just 3% of Japanese Households Receiving Social Assistance Headed by Foreign Residents
Policies related to foreign residents in Japan have become a talking point ahead of the House of Councillors election set for July 20. A false claim that a third of households receiving social welfare are 'foreign' has widely circulated on social media. In fiscal 2023, the number of households with a foreign head (based on the resident register) was just 2.9%. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, 1,650,478 households received social welfare in fiscal 2023 (including those where payments were in the process of being halted), which was an increase of 7,015 year on year. There are 47,317 recipient households with a foreign head. While this total has increased numerically, along with the foreign population, the percentage of the overall number of households has remained below 3% over the past decade. Under the Act on Public Assistance, social welfare is available to citizens, but in 1954 the former Ministry of Health and Welfare issued a notice stating that it can also be provided to foreign residents. Data Sources (Translated from Japanese. Banner image: A man consults about social welfare at the municipal office in Chūō, Tokyo, on January 22, 2004. © Jiji.)
03-07-2025
- Health
Japan's Population of Atomic Bomb Survivors Falls Below 100,000
Japan Data Eight decades after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the number of hibakusha still living has declined to fewer than 100,000. Eighty Years On According to statistics from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, there were 99,130 people officially designated as hibakusha or atomic bomb survivors, as of March 31, 2025. Under the former Act on Medical Care for Atomic Bomb Survivors, booklets entitling hibakusha to medical treatment were first distributed in 1957. The number of officially recognized hibakusha reached a peak of 372,264 in 1981 before dropping below 200,000 in March 2014 and falling below 100,000 this year. The average age of survivors is now 86.13 (up 0.55 compared with the previous year). This August marks the eightieth anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As the remaining hibakusha are very elderly, there is concern that without the direct accounts of atomic bomb survivors, it will be difficult to adequately convey their experiences to later generations. Data Sources Data related to hibakusha (Japanese) from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. (Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo: The remains of the Hiroshima Prefectural Exhibition Hall, now known as the Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome, in September 1945, a month after the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. © AFP/Jiji.)
