March wages fall first time in 13 months

Japanese wage earners' total cash earnings fell 0.4 percent in March from a year earlier, down for the first time in 13 months, government data showed on Monday, after Japan's triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis hurt jobs and income.
Overtime pay, a barometer of strength in corporate activity, increased 1.0 percent in March from a year earlier. That was up for the 15th straight month but slowed sharply from a revised 4.4 percent rise in February, the labour ministry data showed.
Total working hours fell 1.6 percent, accelerating from a revised 0.2 percent decline in February as power shortages and supply constraints caused by the disaster disrupted business activity. The ministry said a smaller number of companies than usual had replied to the latest survey in the three prefectures in northeast Japan most severely hit by the March 11 quake.