The average monthly pay increase at Japanese businesses this year rose 2,524 yen ($16) from 2023 to a record 11,961 yen, a government survey showed Monday, exceeding the 10,000 yen mark for the first time amid rising prices. The figure, representing a 4.1 percent rise from last year, came as management and labor unions agreed on historic wage hikes in this year’s spring wage negotiations. A growth in the minimum wage also contributed to the increase, according to the labor ministry. Both the value and rate of wage increases exceeded the previous year for the third straight year and hit the hig…