Based on the historical data between the years 1989 to 2018 collected by “Trading Economics” at tradingeconomics.com and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the minimum wage a regular employee earns in the Philippines was at an all time low of 89 Philippine Pesos per day during the first indicated year of 1989. Over time, the data collected reveals an upward trend with a slow but steady increase reaching a record high of 537 Philippine Pesos per day in the year 2018. However, it should be noted that the data discussed above pertains only to the minimum wage of employees engaged in the non-agricultural sector located in the National Capital Region which is among the highest paid regions in the country. The minimum wages in the Philippines actually vary depending on the sector involved and the region of choice.
In Japan on the other hand, the minimum wage as set by the country’s Central Minimum Wage Council is based on an hourly rate and differs depending on the rank of the prefecture concerned. A subcommittee of Japan’s Minimum Wage Council divides the 47 prefectures of the country into four classes ranging from rank A to rank D. Their classification, as indicated by news reports, is based mainly on the regional economic climate as well as other factors as determined by the Local Minimum Wage Council.
Prefectures ranked A such as Tokyo and Osaka recently enjoyed a 27 yen (12.93 Php) increase in minimum hourly wage whereas prefectures under group B including, among others, Kyoto and Hiroshima was increased by 26 yen (12.45 Php). Prefectures belonging to class C such as Hokkaido and Fukuoka received a wage hike of 25 yen (11.97 Php). For those under rank D (e.g. Aomori and Okinawa prefectures), the most recent increase was pegged at 23 yen (11.01 Php).
As it stands the average minimum hourly wage across the country of Japan is now at 874 yen (418.57). Nevertheless, the government of Japan still aims to increase the average minimum hourly salary to 1,000 yen (478.91 Php) in the near future. Pursuant to the foregoing circumstances, it appears that the minimum wage in the highest paid region in the Philippines is still a far cry from the average minimum wage of employees across the nation of Japan. However, do consider that the data above does not include the necessary expenses and costs of living in a foreign country.
References:
Japan Sets Goal of 1,000-Yen Minimum Wage
Japan’s average minimum wage should be raised to 874 yen per hour: panel
