In Japan, the term ‘minimum wage’refers to the national weighted
average amount per hour of the various minima applying across the country.
There are two kinds of minimum wage: the regional—applied to all employees
in a region regardless of difference of industries—and the specific—applied
to workers in specific industries. In 2015 the minimum wage was ¥780
($A8.58) per hour.
7.7.5France
The French industrial relations system, like much of its economy, is charac-
terized by significant government intervention. The government sets min-
imum wages, can extend national collective agreements to firms and
employees, and can force negotiations on employers and employees on a
number of employment issues. Perhaps the most famous example of recent
government intervention was the introduction by the socialist government in
2000 of the maximum 35-hour week. However, by 2014 the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported that French
workers worked an average of 39.5 hours a week, just under the Eurozone
average of 40.9 hours a week (OECD 2015).
Trade union density is low by international standards, 8 per cent (OECD
2015), but unions are notoriously militant. French unions are quite different
from those in other countries mentioned in this section in that they are highly
political and characterized by division and conflict. France hasfive trade
union‘confederations’recognized as nationally representative for bargaining
purposes. The rights to bargain on behalf of workers are not dependent on any
actual union presence withinfirms. In addition to thesefive unions there are
numerous other sector-specific unions.
The French system of statutory national minimum wage was introduced in
1970 (‘salaire minimum interprofessionnel de croissance’or SMIC) and is
pegged to consumer prices. It may also be raised by decree of the Council of
Ministers, through the application of a review procedure. The SMIC is an
hourly rate of pay, but since 1972 it has been complemented by a minimum
monthly pay level for all employees whose working hours are at least equal to
the statutory working week. In addition, it is the traditional role of collective
agreements at industry level tofix minimum rates of pay for each occupa-
tional category.
In 2015 the minimum rate for those 18 years of age or older, or with at least
six months of‘professional practice’, was€9.61. Minimum wages for employ-
ees under 17 years old and between 17 and 18 years old with less than six
months’professional practice receive, respectively, 80 per cent and 90 per cent
of the adult rate (Wage Indicator Foundation 2015).
Australia’s Industrial Relations Singularity