TOKYO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Japanese employees received their largest average wage increase in 33 years during this spring's negotiations, according to a recent survey by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO).

Labor unions across the country secured an average monthly pay raise of 15,281 yen (about 95 U.S. dollars), marking a 5.1 percent increase, the data showed.

This is the first time since 1991 that the figure has surpassed 5 percent, with the raise including both seniority-based increases and base-pay hikes.

Smaller businesses with fewer than 300 employees saw an average raise of 4.45 percent, the highest since 1992, though still lower than the 5.1 percent seen in larger companies with over 1,000 employees.

Over 5,200 companies participated in the survey.

The latest labor ministry data showed that amid soaring prices, Japan's real wages in April dropped 0.7 percent from a year earlier for the 25th straight month of decline, the longest since comparable data became available in 1991.

"Fewer people believe this year's wage hikes have improved their lives," said RENGO official Nidaira Akira, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to support working families. Enditem

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