Japan PM Kishida to call for 3% wage hike in next year's labour talks

The request will be part of his initiative to distribute more wealth to households, and help ease the pain on consumers from rising oil and food costs.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to urge the business sector to raise wages by around 3% in next year's annual wage negotiations with labour unions, Kyodo news agency reported on Friday.

The request will be part of Kishida's initiative to distribute more wealth to households, and help ease the pain on consumers from rising oil and food costs.

The proposal, to be made at a government panel to be held later on Friday, will be the first time in four years for the government to set a numerical target for businesses on the level of wage hikes.

There is uncertainty, however,