[1] Types of minimum wages and revision schedule
Essentially, wages should be determined freely by labor and management, but companies are also required to observe the government’s minimum wage standards. Regional minimum wages are set for individual prefectures, and some industries also need to follow specific minimum wage standards. Regional minimum wages are reviewed annually and normally implemented in October, but this year, effective dates have been delayed to November, December or even March 2026 in some prefectures.
[2] FY2025 regional minimum wages and effective dates
The Labor Ministry divides prefectures into three groups from A to C and provides regional minimum wage guidelines for each group. Based on the guidelines, prefectural labor bureaus determine minimum wages and their effective dates. For FY2025, the ministry has proposed an increase of 63 yen for A and B groups and 64 yen for C group. After deliberations by prefectural labor bureaus, substantial hikes have been achieved, especially in prefectures where minimum wages were comparatively low last year. Renewed standards for individual prefectures and effective dates are officially determined with a public announcement.
Chart: Regional minimum wages for FY2025 (unit: yen)
With minimum wage increases greater than last year, the subsidy for operation improvement may be helpful for companies to comply with the standards. Please check the information from the Labor Ministry.
[Reference]
The Labor Ministry, “All prefectures have made a proposal on regional minimum wage”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_63030.html
“Operation improvement subsidy has been enhanced to support efforts of SMEs to raise minimum wages”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_63127.html
*The information is valid as of the date of the original article.
