Relatives of Chinese man seek compensation for his death from overwork

Saturday 08th August, 05:58 AM JST

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OssanAmerica at 02:41 AM JST - 9th August

Whenever there were supposed to have a labour inspection, three days >ahead misteriously ALL irregularities were cleaned up and we were told >to not speak any word and japanese in order to avoid to be directly >questioned....

I see. So you never brought the matter up to the labor authorities in the first place. And of course you never brought it to the attention of the media either. As they say, thank you that'll be all.
Himajin at 07:31 AM JST - 9th August

The correct term would be "underpaid".

Really? 11 hours 28-29 days a month doesn't qualify as being treated like a slave?
Davin at 07:54 AM JST - 9th August

Did you report this to the appropriate authorities?

Yes I did, with no results what so ever! When it comes to human rights, sometimes it seems like 1943. I have worked for some people in Japan who treat everyone equal, no matter what nationality, but when it comes to the Government, they could care less!
bcbrownboy at 08:57 AM JST - 9th August

Memorial held for wartime Chinese forced laborers who died in Japan - seems that little has changed in 65 years.
xandirules at 09:18 AM JST - 9th August

I see. So you never brought the matter up to the labor authorities in the first place. And of course you never brought it to the attention of the media either. As they say, thank you that'll be all.

Sure!!

Brougth that matter up to the same authorities whose kindly advises that company: "Attention!! In thee days we will been inspecting your facility!! Be warn to put aside any sign of irregularities in order to not cause any anoying situation to us!!!"

To the media!!! How concernt are they about labor rights of foreigners?
OssanAmerica at 01:12 PM JST - 9th August

Really? 11 hours 28-29 days a month doesn't qualify as being treated >like a slave?

Yes really. Unless one was not being paid for all those hours.
OssanAmerica at 01:17 PM JST - 9th August

I'm a afraid there's something of a credibility isuue with these multiple claims of having been foreign factory trainees in Japan.
hworta269 at 07:19 PM JST - 10th August

The Chinese people can stay in China? Dont Japanese people die early from stress sometimes also?
sarahsoy29 at 12:52 PM JST - 11th August

Ossan America

So if something doesn't fit your agenda it must be untrue? There have been problems with these trainee programs for many years; why do you think they keep coming up for criticism in the news over and over? I have heard similar stories over the years from people who work blue collar jobs; both Japanese and foreign. I have little reason to doubt their truth.

hworta269

"The Chinese people can stay in China?"

You're welcome to go back where you came from as well.
hworta269 at 07:14 PM JST - 12th August

I am not demanding Japan pay me unspecified money for "damages" related from stress, or overwork.
Jizzeez at 03:22 PM JST - 13th August

Shouldn't "overwork" in paragraph four be "overtime"? Overwork and overtime are not the same thing. This is a common Japanese English mistake. "I sometimes have to do overwork". You die from overwork not do it. Under the circumstances the difference hardly matters though as he died from overwork.
432cestus80 at 11:27 AM JST - 18th August

I got interested in the intelligent discussion of hereinabove topic, based on the comments posted. In reference to the Japanese Constitution "There shall be no racial discrimination", furthermore, in Japanese Labor Standard Law (Rodo Kijun-ho)otherwise known as the equal treatment law, "The law prohibits employers from discriminating employees with regards to wages, working hours or other working conditions, regardless of race, color, creed, social status or family origin." and "All foreign workers in Japan are protected by the following labor laws: Labor Standard Law, Minimum Wage Law (Saitei Chingin-ho), Workers Accident Compensation Insurance Law (Rodosha Saigai Hosho Hoken-ho, Equal Oppurtunity Law (Danjo Koyo Kikai Kinto-ho) It is also said in those laws that even illegal or non-documented foreign workers are covered by the Japanese Labor Laws. All of the aforementioned references were taken from Law and Rghts Index of Japanese Labor Laws and its entirety. HOWEVER... most of the employers does not follow any laws mentioned above, while the Japanese government does not care to imnplement those laws!!! They need to protect their own flock! as it is said "cada obeha con su pareha". And worst, employers just intentionally violate the law with the blessing of the government, using brokers as a buffer/wall to prevent nikkeijin for a direct complaint or labor disputes against them, also employers now prefer using trainees for a very cheap labor, a working condition bordering on slavery! A ridiculous contract signed by nikkeijin a provision that states... two (20) months provisionary renewable contract! a no work no pay scheme! no holiday pay! in short and to sum it all, all of the provisions of the Japanese Labor Laws are just mere scrap of paper good for a toilet bowl. Why nikkeijin does not complain? if they do, they are told to go home! and they cannot be accepted in other jobs available simply because "BROKERS" ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES where they deny jobs to nikkeijin who complain. For those nikkeijin who insist on their rights sadly they will be jobless and homeless for the rest of their lives, and they go home to their motherland with only 1 yen in their pocket!
432cestus80 at 11:42 AM JST - 18th August

corrections: omitted... settling labor disputes against them clerical error: two (2) not (20)

Thanks.
sarahsoy29 at 04:40 PM JST - 18th August

hworta269

"I am not demanding Japan pay me unspecified money for "damages" related from stress, or overwork."

You're also, oddly enough, not dead. This would lead one to believe that you don't deserve damages on the same level as this guy's family does.
432cestus80 at 05:06 PM JST - 18th August

My intentions of posting my comment is to make known to public **that ****indeed there is a Law regarding labor**, but does not being followed by employers, while remained uncheck or unimplemented by the Japanese government for the benefit of its citizens and foreign workers. I suggest my readers, to please read my previous posted comment again, where I re-iterated my views of the laws of Japan. There is nothing to offend anyone, and if there is, I am deeply sorry.