TSUTSUMI Akizumi

Speaking Topics

Work stress and Karoshi in Japan.

Karoshi was recognized as a social issue in Japan in the late 1980s: it includes acquiring or dying of cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease as well as acquiring mental disorders or suicide owing to overwork. Although scientific evidence behind the phenomenon has been accumulated recently, Karoshi has become a legal issue whereby victims’ families seek compensation. In 2024, a total of 1030 claims were submitted requesting worker compensation for work-related cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Among them, 241 claims for diseases were approved for compensation, 67 cases were dead cases. In 2024, a total of 3780 claims were submitted requesting worker compensation for work-related mental disorders and suicide. Among them, 1055 claims were approved for compensation, 88 cases for suicide. As long working hours were supposed to be behind the Karoshi problem, the Japanese government released several remedies: In 2006, the government amended Industrial Safety and Health Act and introduced the system of Doctor’s Interview of Workers with Long Working Hours. Promoting law on preventive measures against Karoshi was enforced in 2014. There is a decreasing trend in working hours and work-related cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease cases in Japan. However, the trend of work-related mental disorders is still increasing. So, the government released further remedies. First, the Outline of Measures to Prevent Karoshi has been revised twice. The latest government outline to prevent karoshi is based on anticipated work-style changes that have accompanied the spread of COVID-19; they encourage businesses to prevent overwork by informing them about new work styles, such as teleworking, double work, and freelancing. Second, the Japanese government launched a new occupational health policy called the Stress Check Program in December 2015. This program is a mandatory workplace initiative under the Industrial Safety and Health Act. It requires employers with 50 or more employees to conduct annual psychological stress assessments. Results are provided directly to employees, and with their consent, high-stress individuals can receive follow-up interviews with a physician. Aggregated data may also be used to improve workplace environments. Third, in 2018, the government came up with a set of remedies to promote Japanese work style reform, which includes amendment of the Labor Standard Act. The related act includes new regulations on working hours and the introduction of a work-interval system. Fourth, the line of Karoshi, which is the standard for approving work-related medical disorders, was reviewed in 2021. To address worker compensation with karoshi-related claims, new criteria include workload factors other than long working hours. Still, there is another target that should be addressed in small and medium sized enterprises where half the Japanese work force is involved. The point is the low activity of the small and medium sized enterprises, and governance by law is difficult to reach them. The Industrial Safety and Health Act was amended in the last Diet that the act mandates use of the Stress Check Program in all workplaces including small-sized enterprises. Karoshi cannot be prevented by reducing working hours alone. Business practices and general consumption behavior are related to working hours and workload; thus, continuous and multifaceted efforts, including increased public understanding, are necessary to prevent karoshi.