Minimum wages are rising across Japan from the start of October amid rising prices, with a majority of prefectures implementing an increase on Sunday.

Every year, each prefecture decides its own wage level based on proposals from a labor ministry panel.

The national average hourly wage will rise to 1,004 yen, or about 6.7 dollars. That will translate to a record-high hike of some 30 cents over last year.

Tokyo has the highest hourly level at 1,113 yen, or around 7.4 dollars. Iwate prefecture has the lowest at 893 yen, or roughly 6 dollars.

Some small and mid-sized firms say they find it hard to keep up with the hike. And workers say the wage hike is not enough to offset ever-rising prices.