Only 17 percent of major companies will raise wages in the business year that starts April 1, even though 71 percent expect the economy to expand in 2014, according to a Kyodo News survey.

Of the 104 companies polled, 18 said they will authorize wage hikes.

The poll found that many companies remain cautious about pay raises despite the urging of the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who wants the economy to keep moving forward after the consumption tax goes up in April.