Winter bonuses down for 3rd straight year

 Winter bonuses paid between November 2011 and January 2012 fell for the third straight year, reflecting corporate earnings deterioration in the wake of the March 2011 disaster and a global economic slowdown due to the eurozone debt crisis, government data showed Tuesday.
The bonuses averaged 372,471 yen, down 1.9 percent from a year earlier, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said. The data cover companies that have five employees or more.
In February, total monthly salaries per worker, which includes overtime pay and bonuses, rose 0.7 percent from the previous year to 265,497 yen on average, marking the first rise in nine months thanks to a leap day.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T120403004060.htm