According to calculations released by the Fukuoka Labor Bureau on Aug. 5, the take-home pay of a person working at the nationally-mandated prefectural minimum wage in the cities of Fukuoka and Kitakyushu was below the amount of public assistance benefits (for young single households) in FY2011. In fiscal 2011, monthly welfare benefits were ¥14,489 more than minimum wage for a resident of Fukuoka and ¥1,837 more for a resident of Kitakyushu. The 2011 figures are the most recent, and calculations made with them were presented at the Fukuoka Regional Minimum Wage Council on Aug. 5. This information will be used to revise minimum wages this summer. To close the gap between minimum wage salaries and public assistance, Fukuoka would need to increase its minimum wage by ¥72 / hour and Kitakyushu by ¥13 / hour; however, Fukuoka only enacted a ¥6 / hour increase last summer. Kurume City, whose monthly welfare benefits exceeded take-home pay at minimum wage in FY2010, had reversed the imbalance by FY2011. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Aug. 6
