Spring 1999 Labour-Management Negotiations

    The labour-management negotiations in spring 1999 took place with the Japanese economy still under extremely severe conditions, but finding some support thanks to the effects of various government policies. With the employment situation such that the number of employees had decreased and with the unemployment rate at its highest level ever, the amounts of wage increases were generally below 1997 levels. Wage increases agreed upon by major industrial unions were as follows: electrical-machinery industry 500 yen (wage increase; this figure is based on the average 35-year-old worker), and automobile industry 6,626 yen (this figure includes regularly scheduled raises and is based on an average wage system).