Japan approves fifth straight pay and bonus rise for national public servants
In short
On the 9th, Japan's government decided at a meeting of ministers on salaries and a Cabinet meeting to implement the National Personnel Authority's recommendation to raise national public servants' pay for fiscal 2026. Monthly pay is to rise by an average of 3.51% (15,056 yen) and the annual bonus by 0.05 months to 4.70 months, the fifth straight year that both have gone up. The government aims to pass a bill amending the salary law during the current Diet session.
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Japan's government decided on the 9th, at a meeting of ministers on salaries and a Cabinet meeting, to implement the National Personnel Authority's recommendation to raise pay for national public servants for fiscal 2026. Monthly pay and bonuses (term-end and diligence allowances) are both being raised for the fifth consecutive year. The government aims to pass a bill amending the salary law to include the recommendation during the current Diet session. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Under the recommendation, monthly pay rises by an average of 3.51%, or 15,056 yen. The annual bonus increases by 0.05 months' pay to 4.70 months. Nikkei reported that the recommendation was made in August and that the increase in monthly pay is above 3% for the second year in a row. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Jiji Press reported that the recommendation also sets up a relocation allowance for staff who move house because of a transfer, paying between 6,000 and 105,000 yen depending on distance and other factors. It also creates a system of seven days of unpaid leave a year that staff can take for any reason. [ 1 , 2 ]
Speaking at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting the same day, Hiroshi Nakatsukasa (中司宏), the minister in charge of the national civil service system, said the government would continue to work on improving working conditions, based on the National Personnel Authority's review, in order to secure capable staff, Nikkei reported. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The decision raises both monthly pay and bonuses for national public servants for a fifth consecutive year, and the monthly pay increase is above 3% for a second year running, according to Nikkei. The changes still need a revised salary law, which the government aims to pass in the current Diet session. The minister in charge of the civil service system linked the improvements to recruiting capable staff.
Key facts
- The government decided on the 9th, at a meeting of ministers on salaries and a Cabinet meeting, to implement the National Personnel Authority's recommendation to raise fiscal 2026 pay for national public servants. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Monthly pay and bonuses are both being raised for the fifth consecutive year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Monthly pay is to rise by an average of 3.51%, or 15,056 yen. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The annual bonus is to increase by 0.05 months' pay to 4.70 months. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The recommendation includes a relocation allowance of 6,000 to 105,000 yen, depending on distance and other factors, for staff who move house because of a transfer. [ 1 , 2 ]
- It also creates a system of seven days of unpaid leave a year that staff can take for any reason. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The government aims to pass a bill amending the salary law during the current Diet session. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The government decided on the 9th to implement the National Personnel Authority's recommendation to raise national public servants' pay for fiscal 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Monthly pay and bonuses are both rising for the fifth year in a row. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Monthly pay is to rise by an average of 3.51% (15,056 yen) and the bonus by 0.05 months to 4.70 months. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The government aims to pass a revised salary law in the current Diet session. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the bill amending the salary law will pass in the current Diet session. The documents say only that the government aims to pass it.
- That the monthly pay increase exceeds 3% for the second year in a row, and that the recommendation was made in August. Only Nikkei reports these details.
- The minister's statement on further improving working conditions. Only Nikkei reports the minister's remarks.
- The recommendation includes a relocation allowance of 6,000 to 105,000 yen and seven days of unpaid leave a year for any reason. Reported by a single source so far