Japan Press Weekly

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2013 April 24 - May 7 [LABOR]

Taxi drivers win overtime pay

Taxi drivers in Mie Prefecture have won their lawsuit demanding that their employer pay for their overtime work.

The Tsu District Court Yokkaichi Branch on April 17 accepted part of their claim and ordered Meitetsu Yokkaichi Taxi to pay a total of 2.05 million yen to four out of five plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs, who are members of the Mie Meitetsu Taxi Union, claimed that what the company recognized as break should be counted as working hours since they were waiting for customers during that time. They demanded that the company pay them a total of 6.15 million yen as unpaid overtime work for the period between 2008 and 2010.

“Although the ruling did not accept the workers’ entire demand, we recognize it as a victory,” said plaintiffs’ lawyer Fukui Etsuko.

The company has appealed the court decision to the Nagoya High Court.