Japan Press Weekly

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2021 May 19 - 25 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Agreement concluded between plaintiffs and government in construction asbestos lawsuits

Plaintiffs in lawsuits against the national government and construction material makers over asbestos exposure on May 18 concluded with the Health Ministry a basic agreement centering on the payment of up to 13 million yen per plaintiff as part of the settlement.

On the other hand, regarding the plaintiffs’ demand for a compensation program funded by the state and construction material manufacturers, the two parties failed to reach a conclusion.

According to the agreement, a fund for providing cash benefits to asbestos victims who did not bring their cases to court will be established.

The agreement was made following the Supreme Court ruling on the previous day that the national government and building material makers should be held responsible for health damages to workers, including self-employed workers, caused by exposure to asbestos at construction sites.

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on May 17 at a press conference in the Diet building said, “The JCP, as a political party working for an early settlement of asbestos cases in local assemblies and in the Diet, welcomes the top court judgement.”

Koike added, “The Supreme Court ruling clearly states that building material companies are liable for workers’ health damages. The government should work hard to establish a compensation fund for asbestos victims with financial contributions from construction material makers.”

Past related article:
> JCP in Diet calls for early settlement of asbestos cases [October 17, 2014]