TOKYO, March 7 Reuters Japan39;s largest industrial labour group said on Thursday that 25 of its member unions have so far had their wage demands met in full from management, agreeing to raise fulltime workers39; pay 6.7 during annual wage talks that end next week.

The pay hike was the biggest since the UA Zensen, an umbrella group that represents 2,237 unions, was established in 2012, likely adding to the momentum of the ongoing negotiations. Strong wage growth is expected to pave the way for the central bank to normalise monetary policy.

Speculation persists that the Bank of Japan may lift negative interest rates at its policysetting meetings at either its March 1819 or April 2526 meetings.

UA Zensen seeks a total wage increase of 6, 4 of which are to be in base pay hikes, at this year39;s Japan39;s wage talks negotiations between bluechip companies and unions.

Last year, Japanese firms offered workers the highest wage hikes in 30 years. Average Japanese workers39; wages had remained stagnant since the assetbubble burst in the early 1990s.

UA Zensen represents 1.8 million workers in the service, textiles, distribution and other sectors, making it Japan39;s largest sectortosector union.

For the second straight year UA Zensen39;s pay demand exceeded that of Rengo, Japan39;s largest trade union confederation, which called for pay hikes of 5 or more this year.

Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Kim Coghill and Sam Holmes

Source Reuters