Government asked to curb Japanese overwork deaths abroad - NHKニュース

Families of Japanese nationals who died from overwork overseas are calling on the labor ministry to take measures to prevent such deaths, including surveying working conditions and strengthening policies.

Members of Labor Issues Networking for Japanese Overseas Workers (LINJOW), made up of family members of people who died from excessive work overseas, and their lawyers, submitted written requests to State Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Urano Yasuto on Friday.

The document says that some corporations may not be carrying out appropriate work management as Japan's Labor Standards Act, in principle, does not apply to people who work at businesses overseas.

It also asks the government to strengthen policies as working overseas can be a source of physical and mental stress due to issues including changes in living environment and differences in language.

Specifically, the group is asking for an investigation into actual conditions including long working hours and mental unwellness. It is also requesting that guidelines be drawn up, such as what companies should do in terms of managing working time and conducting regular health checks.

It also mentioned workers' accident compensation insurance under which people sent overseas for work can receive compensation from the government for issues such as illness and injury. Under the current system, it is up to companies whether to join the insurance program or not, but the group says that the system should be changed so that companies should be obliged to join.

LINJOW said Urano responded by saying he would consider moving in the direction of conducting a survey and creating guidelines based on its contents.

After submitting the document, the bereaved family members held a news conference. Ueda Naomi, a joint representative, spoke about her son, who was in his 20s when he killed himself five years ago while working in Thailand.

Ueda said her son was aware of being mentally unwell, but still lost his life as he was unable to get medical treatment amid problems including the language barrier. She said support is needed as distress only deepens when one does not know where to seek help when overseas.