A study on the Karoshi Award System in Japan

• Main Author: 謝秋芸
• Other Authors: 張其恆
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2006
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/06411001347394555329

碩士 === 國立政治大學 === 勞工研究所 === 95 === Since the 1970s, Japanese workers have faced the deterioration of labor conditions and working environment due to the economic growth shifting from high to low level. From then on, there is a socially pathological phenomenon taking place, namely Karoshi. In the 1990s, the lasting depression in the aftermath of the collapse of bubble economy made some of big corporations lay off thousands of workers. The rate of unemployment was higher than 4% and the number of suicide cases was over 30000 people in 1998. Consequently, Karojisatsu, a behavior which is caused by psychological level, emerged in Japan society. The crucial players who have devoted to socialization of Karoshi and Karojisatsu are nationwide doctors, lawyers, scholars and so on. In the beginning, they grouped a national organization such as “Karoshi Hotline” to promote themselves. Nowadays, in the whole country provides information service managed by lawyers. They are active to help victims or their survivors gain reasonable compensation. According to my research, after amended four times, the administrative formula of the karoshi shifts from the accident theory to the monitor concerning the accumulation of tiredness in a long period. It pays more attention to the degree of a worker’s psychological pressure. Moreover, the Supreme Court thinks that the responsibility of Karojisatsu should be taken by corporations. The judgment is beneficial for the development of the worker’s compensation of Karoshi and Karojisatsu. Besides, because prophylaxis is as important as compensation, the Occupational Safety and Health Law, which was amended by the Ministry of Labor in 1988, enforces a series of precautious policies about over-work and mental health. They are aimed to achieve precautious effects through strengthening the management of information concerning workers’ health. Taiwanese government enacted the administrative formula of the karoshi in 1995 which referred to those of Japan and Germany. However, the benefit of work-related injury seemed ineffective to deal with increasing cases of Karoshi. Due to the pressure from the public opinion shaped by media organizations, the government has amended the administrative formula twice. Nevertheless, the amendment ignores the precaution against Karoshi and Karojisatsu in Japan. Therefore, the precaution should be enforced as soon as possible to prevent and curb the emergence of Karoshi.