POLL-Over half of Japan firms say no plan to raise base…

Reuters

Feb 20 (Reuters) – More than half of Japanese companies do not intend to raise base pay at spring wage talks this year and even those that do say they will keep increases in line with last year, a Reuters poll found. Below are the questions and answers to the poll conducted between Jan 31 and Feb 14 for Reuters by Nikkei Research. Answers are denoted in percentage points, while poll and reply totals are represented in actual figures. 1. Do you plan to raise base pay at this spring’s wage negotiations with labour unions? Sectors Yes No Polled Replied All 48 52 544 236 Manufacturers 52 48 265 125 Non-Manufacturers 44 56 279 111 1a. If you answer yes to the question above, by how much do you plan to raise base pay? (Pick one) Sectors More than Same as Less than Polled Replied last year last year last year All 14 76 10 544 111 Manufacturers 14 75 11 265 63 Non-Manufacturers 15 77 8 279 48 2. Have labour costs declined from the previous year due to cuts in long working hours? Sectors Yes No Polled Replied All 32 68 544 242 Manufacturers 30 70 265 129 Non-Manufacturers 34 66 279 113 2a. Do you plan to pay employees back the money left by declines in overtime pay due to cuts in long working hours? Sectors Yes No Polled Replied All 29 71 544 236 Manufacturers 26 74 265 125 Non-Manufacturers 32 68 279 111 3. Do you think a 3 percent wage rise is a realistic target for your company? (Pick one) Sectors Yes, Yes, to a Not really Out of the Polled Replied absolutely degree question All 5 36 52 7 544 244 Manufacturers 2 41 48 8 265 130 Non-Manufacturers 9 31 55 5 279 114 4. How will implementation of ‘equal pay for equal work’ affect labour costs? (Pick one) Sectors Rise Rise No change Lower Lower Polled Replied considerably slightly slightly considerably All 11 46 42 1 0 544 245 Manufacturers 10 48 41 2 0 265 130 Non-Manufacturers 11 44 43 1 0 279 115 4a. If you foresee labour costs rising, what will be the most effective way to avoid such an increase? (Pick one) Sectors Differenti Lower pay Reduce No need Others Polled Replied ate jobs levels employees for any steps All 56 1 15 13 15 544 136 Manufacturers 58 0 20 9 12 265 74 Non-Manufacturers 53 3 10 16 18 279 62 5. Before a revised labour contract law in April starts forcing companies to give permanent status to temporary workers who have served more than five years, if they request it, have you terminated or do you plan to terminate contracts with such temporary workers? Sectors Yes No Polled Replied All 11 89 544 240 Manufacturers 11 89 265 127 Non-Manufacturers 12 88 279 113 (Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Neil Fullick)

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