Japan mulls mandating disclosure of average wages by gender

As part of efforts to reduce gender inequality, the government is also considering having firms disclose the ratio of male workers on childcare leave.
By: | March 28, 2022

Japan is considering mandating companies to disclose the average wages by gender and the ratio of female managers in their annual reports, according to people with knowledge on the matter, reports Reuters

The requirement could be implemented as early as the fiscal year beginning in April 2023, and would be part of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s move to narrow income disparities and achieve a more equal distribution of wealth.

The government is also considering having firms disclose the ratio of male workers on childcare leave. 

“The wage gap between men and women is an economic and financial problem, and the premier has a sense of crisis about it,” said an official. “Other countries are moving at a tremendous speed. Japan has to go about three times as fast as before [to catch up].”

READ: Japan’s top firms agree to minimum wage raise of over 2%

A panel overseen by the Financial Services Agency also aims to draw up a report on the measures this spring. “We are discussing the issues and nothing has been decided,” said an official at the agency.