90% Of Irregular Japan Workers Can Hardly Make Ends Meet

Around 90% of nonpermanent workers said they were struggling to make ends meet due to price rises, while about 80% claimed their wages have not increased, in a survey that collected responses from around 500 individuals in Japan, Satoshi Tokairin reported for Mainichi Shimbun.

Photo Insert: 40.4% said, "It has gotten very tough," while 48.3% said, "It has gotten somewhat tough," showing that nearly 90% have been affected by price increases.

The questionnaire, whose results were announced by the "executive committee of irregular workers' spring offensive 2023," revealed a separate reality of nonpermanent workers' wage status, which deviated from moves toward wage rises seen in this year's "spring offensive" wage negotiations.

The survey, which asked irregular workers about their pay situation since January, was conducted online between March 1 and 7, and gathered 507 responses. It also collected answers from people who do not belong to a labor union.

40.8% of the respondents were part-time workers, 24.9% were dispatch workers, 17.6% were contract workers, and 16.8% had a different employment status. Of the respondents, 65.5% were female and 30.4% were male.

When asked whether they are having a more difficult time making ends meet amid price hikes, 40.4% said, "It has gotten very tough," while 48.3% said, "It has gotten somewhat tough," showing that nearly 90% have been affected by price increases.

To the question, "Do you need a wage rise?" 87% said, "Yes, very much," while 10.1% said, "Yes, somewhat," showing irregular workers are in a desperate state.

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