Japan official denies reports that PM to call for 3% wage hike next year

 A Japanese government official has denied media reports that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will propose that the business sector raise wages by around 3% in next year's annual wage negotiations.
 

The proposal was reported by Kyodo news agency and other outlets, which said Kishida would put it forward at a government panel on Friday.
 

But a government official involved in organising the panel denied the reports, saying Kishida would not make such a proposal. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.
 

Kishida has made tackling wealth disparities and redistributing wealth a political