Osaka minimum wage to rise to 1,231 yen in October

Osaka Prefecture's minimum wage is set to rise to 1,231 yen starting in October. Similar increases of over 50 yen are planned across the Kansai region, following a national trend of significant annual hikes aimed at supporting household incomes.

While the increase benefits part-time workers, it presents challenges for businesses. According to Teikoku Databank, fewer than 40% of companies have been able to pass increased labor costs on to consumers through higher prices. Some businesses are responding by implementing automation, such as introducing serving robots, or reducing staff hours to manage rising expenses.