賃上げの裾野広げる　連合メーデー開催―東京

　連合主催の第９６回メーデー中央大会が２６日、東京都渋谷区の代々木公園で開かれた。石破茂首相も就任後初めて出席。組合員らは、中小企業に賃上げの裾野を広げることなど労働者の生活向上を訴えた。
　首相の出席は、２０２３年に岸田文雄氏が９年ぶりに出席して以降、３年連続。石破首相は「物価上昇に負けない賃上げを必ず実現する」とあいさつ。連合の芳野友子会長は「給料は自らの労働の価値を表す鏡としての一面もあり、給料を上げることは働く者の価値や尊厳に敬意を払うことの意味もある」と訴えた。
　主催者発表で約２万９２００人が参加。小池百合子東京都知事や福岡資麿厚生労働相らも出席した。（2025/04/26-12:10）

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday vowed to realize wage hikes that keep up with the soaring cost of living, at his first May Day event attended since taking office last autumn.
   "We'll definitely realize wage hikes that would not succumb to rising prices," Ishiba said at the May Day central convention in Tokyo hosted by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo.
   It was the third year in a row for a Japanese prime minister to be present at Rengo's May Day event, after then Prime Minister Fumio Kishida became the first Japanese leader to attend such an event in nine years in 2023.
   Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which is headed by Ishiba, has become closer to Rengo recently. The first policy discussion between the prime minister and the chief of Rengo, the umbrella organization for Japanese labor unions, in 16 years was held earlier this month, while Tomoko Yoshino became the first Rengo president in 20 years to attend an LDP convention last month.
   Noting that the wage hike levels agreed during this spring's "shunto" labor-management negotiations appear to be exceeding those of last year, Ishiba at the May Day event said, "We hope to spread this momentum (of higher wages) to smaller companies, regional areas and nonregular employment."