Japan firms promise Abe 'utmost efforts' to lift wages, urge reforms

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese business leaders have promised Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to do their "utmost" to raise wages and allow suppliers to pass on higher costs, while also urging him to push through labour reforms, said a draft agreement between the government, business and labour groups.

Abe and business leaders, including Sadayuki Sakakibara, chairman of Toray Industries Inc and the Keidanren business lobby, are scheduled to announce the plan on Tuesday after a meeting in Tokyo, according to a draft seen by Reuters.