Japan Press Weekly

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2014 June 18 - 24 [POLITICS]

Gov’t responsibility for prevention of ‘karoshi’ enshrined in law

A bill to promote state efforts to protect workers from “karoshi”, death from overwork, became law on June 20 at the House of Councilors plenary session with a unanimous vote.

The new law states that the government holds the responsibility to prevent tragic events caused by excessively long working hours and heavy workloads, and requires the government to conduct study and research for that purpose and report to the Diet about progress in measures implemented.

Families whose members had died from overwork and their supporters have long demanded this legislation. A cross-party parliamentarians’ group has been working to that end.

At a rally held after the passage, a representative of a group of bereaved families and supporters said, “It is significant that the prevention of karoshi becomes a national target. I will work hard to have the law enforced.”

A bereaved parent said, “If the law had been established 10 years ago, my son could have escaped dying from overwork. I hope that Japan becomes a nation protecting workers’ health.”

Representatives of political parties joining the cross-party group delivered speeches. Japanese Communist Party Lower House member Takahashi Chizuko said, “The law will contribute to creating a society without death from overwork.”