Pacific Bridge, Inc. - Asian HR eNewsletter

Volume 3, Number 8 (August 29, 2003)

KAROSHI, DEATH FROM OVERWORK IN JAPAN

Japanese employees are well known for their fierce loyalty to their companies. However, in recent years, this once honorable trait is becoming an increasing cause of death among Japanese workers. The incidence of “karoshi” or death from overwork is growing dramatically in Japan. This is particularly true of male white collar workers in the country. Deaths often occur in the form of strokes, brain aneurysms, and heart attacks. According to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), in 2002, the numbers of deaths attributed to long office work hours was reported to be 317. This is up from 143 in 2001. However, experts believe that the reported number of deaths due to overwork is far lower than in reality. Experts estimate that approximately one million workers in Japan are putting their lives at risk from overwork.

Japan’s ongoing economic recession, greater competition from foreign economies, and a lack of protective measures for Japanese workers have also added to the growing cases of karoshi. A recent survey conducted by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation found that one in 30 male workers in their early 30s worked over 3,000 hours in a year. This comes out to over 58 hours a week, which is considered by the government as a level that threatens health. Ari Sugano from Japan Union, a website helping Japanese workers get off the corporate route commented, “These days, companies are finding all kinds of clever ways to squeeze more time out of workers. They might declare a ‘no overtime month,’ but the ‘no overtime’ refers to no overtime pay. I often hear about other companies that say they are adopting a system of ‘discretionary’ work hours, and use this to coerce employees into working longer hours.”

The MHLW is currently promoting a new plan to help prevent karoshi in the workplace. The plan includes free health check ups for workers showing the four warning signs that place individuals at greater risk of death from overwork. The four signs include: 1) obesity, 2) high blood pressure, 3) high blood sugar levels, and 4) high blood lipid fat levels. According to officials from the MHLW, individuals who exhibit all four warning signs are 35 times more likely to suffer fatal illnesses than their healthy counterparts.

However, besides karoshi, suicides related to work pressures have also become increasingly common in Japan. The country has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world and approximately 31,000 die each year as a result of suicide.



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