Japan's auto, shipbuilding and electrical appliance industries on Wednesday offered higher average pay hikes compared with the previous year for the first increase in four years.
The results of the annual "shunto" wage talks in the three industries are considered bellwethers for spring wage negotiations in other industries.
If the trend is reflected in other industries, the average pay hike at Japan's major companies will likely surpass the 2.06 percent raise obtained last year, which was a record low. The hike is seen as a result of increased corporate earnings.