Overtime work in Feb jumps from year earlier

The average length of overtime work in Japan in February grew a record 11.4 percent compared to last year to 9.8 hours per month.

The monthly labor ministry survey says this is the largest year-on-year increase since the survey began in 1990 and a reflection of the recovering economy.

In the manufacturing sector alone, average overtime work jumped 54.6 percent from a year earlier to 13.6 hours per month.

The national survey covered about 33,000 businesses with 5 employees or more.

Meanwhile, the average monthly salary in February including overtime pay was about 2,940 dollars, down 0.6 percent from a year earlier. The ministry says this reflects the cut in workers' base salary.

Winter bonuses of Japanese workers were an average of 4,230 dollars, down by 9.3 percent from a year earlier and the smallest on record.

The ministry says workers salaries have yet to see the full effects of the recovering economy.