Japan Press Weekly

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2014 April 23 - May 6 [LABOR]

Truck drivers should be paid for waiting time: court

The Yokohama District Court Sagamihara Branch on April 24 ruled truck drivers’ waiting time as hours worked and that a transport company should pay to four company drivers a total of about 43 million yen in back pay in unpaid wages.

The court also ordered the company to make payments equivalent to the back wages to the plaintiffs as a fine for violating the Labor Standards Act.

In the lawsuit, the four truck drivers claimed that the freight company should pay wages properly by counting their waiting time for loading and unloading at consolidation stations and at delivery addresses as hours worked.

Citing the fact that the drivers during their waiting time are engaging in other jobs such as providing assistance to co-workers and the handling and storage of loads, the court upheld the plaintiffs’ claim.

One of the four plaintiffs said, “Even if we leave the driver’s seat, we have to do lots of things, including loading and minor repairs on the vehicle. I applaud the court decision.”

Plaintiffs’ lawyer Obayashi Yoshimasa said, “The ruling is highly significant. It will improve truck drivers’ working conditions and contribute to putting brakes on labor practices in the transport industry which forces them to work long hours.”