Labor unions at major automakers presented their demands to management Wednesday for this year's wage negotiations, with only two of them calling for pay-scale increases.
The two unions asking for pay-scale raises represent workers at Nissan Motor Co. and Yamaha Motor Co.
A pay-scale increase would raise the basic wage table. It would be applied to all workers regardless of age, which is different from automatic raises based on seniority.
"Although business results (in the auto industry) are good in general, it's very regrettable" that only two unions demanded pay-scale hikes, Yuji Kato, president of the Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers' Unions, said at a news conference.
The Nissan union demanded a 1,000 yen pay-scale raise and a 7,000 yen monthly wage increase.
The Yamaha union also wants a 1,000 yen pay-scale increase.