Foreign workers in Japan earn only 70% of average pay

Gap is narrower for white-collar workers, first data show

20200331N Technical trainee REUTERS

A Vietnamese technical trainee works at a knitwear factory in Mitsuke, Japan. © Reuters

JUNTARO ARAI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Foreign nationals working in Japan earn an average 223,100 yen ($2,068) per month, or around 73% of the national average, according to first-of-its-kind government data released Tuesday.

The disparity is more pronounced among blue-collar workers. Among highly skilled workers, foreigners earn close to the national average, the data show, although the sample size is small.

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