The Lower House passed a bill Thursday to cut civil servants' salaries 7.8 percent for two years in a move expected to save taxpayers ¥580 billion.
The bill was immediately sent to the Upper House, which is expected to enact the legislation by the end of the month. The saved money will be used to finance reconstruction of the disaster-hit Tohoku region.
The bill was originally drafted by the Liberal Democratic Party and opposition ally New Komeito.