The Government Administration and Home Affairs Minister says that the planned introduction of five-day workweek will not lead to pay cuts ... at least in the public sector.
He said wage levels of government officials are lower than in the private sector and that this should be taken into account in discussing details of the shorter workweek system.
He also cited the example of Japan, where he said the wage of public servants went up almost three percent rather than going down when it introduced the system.
The minister's remarks came at a meeting with lawmakers Thursday at the National Assembly.
Talks between labor and management are deadlocked over details of the new system. At contention is the management's demand for reduction in the allowance for unused monthly and yearly leave.