Kishida’s presence at the May Day rally marks the first time in
almost a decade that a Japanese prime minister has attended the event. The last
time a prime minister was present at the rally was in 2014 when Shinzo Abe was
in power. By attending the event, Kishida is signaling his commitment to
improving the lives of Japan’s workers and strengthening ties with Rengo, a key
support base of opposition parties.
Rengo, the umbrella organization of labor unions, has been at
the forefront of efforts to increase wages in Japan. In her speech at the
rally, Rengo President Tomoko Yoshino called on labor union representatives to
continue their fight for higher wages until the end of negotiations with
employers. She emphasized that wages need to be raised at small and midsize
enterprises where 70 percent of workers are employed in order for society as a
whole to feel the benefits of wage increases.
The push for higher wages comes as Japan’s economy continues to
struggle with low inflation and weak consumer spending. While the country’s
unemployment rate has remained low, many workers are still struggling to make
ends meet due to low wages and precarious employment conditions.
In recent years, the Japanese government has taken steps to
address these issues by implementing policies such as “Abenomics,” a set of
economic policies aimed at stimulating growth and ending deflation. However,
these policies have had limited success in raising wages and improving the
economy overall.
One reason for this is that many Japanese companies are still
resistant to increasing wages, citing concerns about rising labor costs and the
country’s aging population. In addition, many workers are employed on a
non-regular or freelance basis, making it difficult for them to negotiate
higher wages.
To address these issues, Kishida has promised to focus on wage
increases in small and midsize enterprises, which are often overlooked in
government policies. By doing so, he hopes to create a ripple effect that will
lead to higher wages across the entire economy.
Kishida’s pledge has been met with support from labor unions and
workers across the country. However, it remains to be seen whether the
government and employers will follow through on their promises to raise wages
and improve working conditions.
Despite these challenges, Japan’s workers remain hopeful that
change is possible. By continuing to push for higher wages and better working
conditions, they are sending a message to the government and employers that the
status quo is no longer acceptable.
As Japan navigates the challenges of a post-pandemic economy,
the question remains: will Kishida's pledge to increase wages for small
businesses and rural workers bring about meaningful change, or is it simply
another political promise? Only time will tell.
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