Editorial: Japan Wage Negotiations: Updated April 21, 2024.

 

Editorial: Japan's wage negotiations a chance to revitalize economy with pay raises

Article Source:  https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240125/p2a/00m/0op/008000c

Ideas:

Japanese trade unions might want higher pay raises companies might agree with higher pay raises but also maybe some companies are unable to meet the 5 percent pay raise and the 3% or more base pay.

Yes, this is a situation, maybe due to pressure on all sides companies are going to unleash their long-stored up bank accounts and give the needed pay raises.

There are also two other reasons for the increase in pay. One being its the right thing to do for the good of Japanese society and the Japanese economy, and it give Japanese companies some good public relations points.

The next reason is Japan is in a labor shortage now, and for companies to get the best talent possible they need to pay higher wages as a way to ensure to get what workers they need.

The pay raises eventually could be a multiplier effect, meaning as companies begin to see other companies giving pay raises they too will give pay raises, and then more and more companies will follow through too.

And yes, the key is going to be small and midsize companies, as 70 percent of the Japanese workforce doesn't work for the large Japanese companies.

And there are the non-regular workers and part-time workers who are a significant number or workers in the Japanese economy too.

Japanese companies need to see these workers as being significant stakeholders and not just insignificant numbers to be used and thrown out.

Wages or salaries in Japan are some of the lowest among OECD countries. If Japanese companies had not adopted western style cost cutting measures and given regular pay raises each year, maybe the Japanese economy might not have been in the situation its in today.

Unfortunately, they have prioritized stockholders over employees and employees have not been given the wages or salaries they deserve.

And the worst part is large companies taking advantage of smaller subcontractors by not giving the prices they want or need for their products.

Japan used to have a structure that benefited employees and subcontractors with respect but those days seem long gone as companies place profits and stockholders over the benefits of stakeholders, being employees and subcontractors too.

Expanding investment into people is now the future and the outdate style of business is not going to work with young workers today.

News spreads fast, both good and not so good and if young workers know a company is not offering good benefits or good salaries or a good work/life experience, others will know and not apply to that company.

All stakeholder, these days need to be considered and not just regular workers, but subcontractors too and they too can spread information both good and not so good.

Wage increases need to be permanent and continuous and not just a one-time situation and then the next year forgotten. If not the Japanese economy is going to be an economy of haves and have-not and the Japanese economy is going to be unbalanced and consumer spending will never reach its potential.

Have a nice day and be safe!  

Labor Shortage at Japan Airport: Updated Feb. 13, 2024

 

Staff shortages see Japan's Narita Airport turn down 1/3 of weekly flight slot requests

Article Source: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231202/p2a/00m/0bu/016000c

Article:

NARITA, Chiba -- Narita Airport had been unable to respond to over 30% of requested flights per week due to staff shortages as of the end of September, operator Narita International Airport Corp. has announced recently.

Ground crew shortages including cargo handlers, those guiding taxiing aircraft, and boarding staff meant the airport could handle just 101 of the 152 flights per week seeking slots there, as airlines added routes and flights.

Ideas:

Japan has known for a while that it was headed for a labor shortage and it looks like Narita Airport is the latest to see staff shortages.

Maybe being cargo handlers, those guiding taxiing aircrafts and boarding staff are not glamorous jobs, are long working hours, and or just don't pay enough for many Japanese young people.

Japan young people today are very picky about what jobs they want, as they are looking for specific work/lifestyles balance and not too much overtime and or long working hours.

Of course pay is always a priority, in every country and if the Narita Airport Corp. is not paying high enough salaries, again, young people are not going to want to work there.

When I went to Tokyo Haneda, the international airport near the center of Tokyo, in Jan. of this year, there were a lot of foreign staff at the airport directing people where to go and what to do. Of course, maybe Japanese young people don't want to do that work, and or don't have the English languages skills needed to help foreign tourists.

Do most likely, Narita Airport is going to have to hire foreign staff to do the work that maybe Japanese workers used do to.

Article:

The revelation came after an interview survey of some 10 ground operations companies at the airport in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo. In addition to labor shortages, the firms cited a dearth of ground services equipment.

Narita International Airport Corp. President Akihiko Tamura told a Nov. 30 press conference, "We feel we're in crisis. We have since strived to coordinate resources and managed to significantly improve the situation."

The lack of ground crew is a problem at airports across Japan, leaving them unable to deal with additional flights and new services. A transport ministry survey has found that the number of airport ground crew across the country had declined from 26,300 in March 2019 to 23,700 in September 2023.

Ideas:

This is the same situation, in Japan with taxi companies and bus companies that don't have enough drivers, But they are now going to hire for foreign staff for taxi drivers and more  bus drivers who pass a Japanese language test.

Japan is now it a labor shortage crisis and there are many sectors which are seeing shortages, such also maybe hotels too and the service sector has been hit hard with the pandemic and or retirements and or workers changing jobs for higher paying jobs.

Its only going to get worse. But Japan is not using it human resources correctly, as Japanese women are under-represented in many sectors.

For example, I'm sure women can handle most of the jobs at Narita Airport, or other airports if given the chance to work there. 

Have a nice day and be safe!