The government on Friday formally decided to terminate the current special salary cuts for national civil servants at the end of the current fiscal year.

The government deemed it difficult from a legal standpoint to continue the pay cuts, which were not based on a recommendation from the National Personnel Authority.

The government also sees the need to end the pay cuts because it has asked private companies to raise wages.

National civil servant pay has been reduced by an average of 7.8 percent for two years from April 2012, to secure funds for reconstruction in areas damaged by the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

The government also plans to terminate similar pay cuts for local government workers at the same time.

The government also confirmed its policy of continuing efforts to slash labor costs for civil servants after the end of the special salary cuts.

In addition, the government decided to ask the National Personnel Authority to draw up plans to review wage systems for public servants, including cuts in pay levels for workers in their late 50s and local civil servants.