Average pay rise hits a record ¥13,926 a month; care visa quota tilts 20,000 places to tokutei gino

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 22:30:00 GMT

MHLW's annual survey puts the average monthly raise at ¥13,926 (4.4%), with 92.0% of firms raising pay. The government proposes moving 20,000 care-sector places from ikusei shuro to tokutei gino, and mental-health sick-pay claims near 80,000.

Average monthly pay rise reaches a record ¥13,926 as 92% of firms lift wages: This is the benchmark many firms use to test their own increases. If your 2026 raise was below 4.4%, or below 3.9% at a smaller firm, expect retention pressure and plan the 2027 budget with that gap in mind.
Government proposes moving 20,000 care-sector places from ikusei shuro to tokutei gino: Care operators were at risk of a hiring freeze like the one food service hit in April. The plan is not final; employers relying on foreign care staff should favour tokutei gino routes and watch for Cabinet approval.
Mental-health claims make up 41% of sickness allowance cases at Kyokai Kenpo: Mental-health absence is now the main reason staff draw sick pay. Check return-to-work procedures, line-manager training and stress-check follow-up, especially at smaller sites where cover is thin.
Employers resist a mandatory 11-hour rest interval in Labour Standards Act review: A legal interval duty is still undecided, but it is the main fight in the overhaul. Firms with late-night or shift work should check how often staff get under 11 hours' rest now.
MHLW widens workplace health guideline to cover cancer and women's health screening: The guideline is not a new legal duty, but labour inspectors and insurers will refer to it. Review whether your health check follow-up, women's health support and treatment-and-work policies match it.

Japan HR News — The Hardest Market

Average pay rise hits a record ¥13,926 a month; care visa quota tilts 20,000 places to tokutei gino