1. Labor Policy Keiichiro HAMAGUCHI

2. Chapter 2 Working Conditions Policy

3. Section 1 Health and safety and Accident Compensation

4. (1) Health and safety

5. (a) Factory Law and regulations in pre-war era 1911 Factory Law stipulated government order to prevent hazards. 1929 Prevention of Industrial Accident and Health in Factory Regulation covered from machinery safety to hygiene. 1938 revised Regulation required safety staff and industrial physician. 1942 revised Regulation required medical examination.

6. (b) Labor Standards Law 1947 Labor Standards Law covered wide areas and applied almost all workers. Hazards prevention, safety apparatus, performance inspection, prohibition of manufacturing harmful substances etc. Enforcement Regulation required health and safety committee composed of labor and management.

7. (c) Industrial Accident Prevention Organization Law and Industrial Health and Safety Law First Industrial Accident Prevention Plan drawn up in 1958. 1964 Industrial Accident Prevention Organization Law promoted voluntary prevention activities. 1972 Industrial Health and Safety Law strengthened health and safety management system. ILO Convention No.155 on Occupational Safety and Health and the Working Environment adopted in 1981.

8. (d) Prevention of Death and Suicide from Overwork 1996 revised IHS Law obliged employers to take measures in order to prevent death from work. 1999 revised IHS Law ensured voluntary medical examination for night workers. 2002 Circulation required employers to restrict overtime within 45 hours per month. 2005 revised IHS Law obliged employers to take measures in case of overtime over 100 hours per month.

9. (2) Workers’ Accident Compensation

10. (a) Factory Law and insurance systems in pre-war era 1911 Factory Law obliged employers to compensate for workers’ accident. 1922 Health Insurance Law covered both occupational and non-occupational injuries. ILO Convention No.17 on Accidents and No.18 on Diseases adopted in 1925. 1931 Workers’ Accident Compensation Law and Workers’ Accident Compensation Liability Insurance Law covered only construction sector.

11. (b) Labor Standards Law and Workers’ Accident Compensation Insurance Law 1947 Labor Standards Law obliged employers to compensate accident and disease of all sectors. 1947 Workers’ Accident Compensation Law is social insurance for workers, not liability insurance for employers. 1965 revised WAC Law turned some benefits into pensions. 1972 revised WAC Law provided Commutation Injury Benefit. Council for Regulatory Reform advocated privatization of the system.

12. (c) Recognition Guidelines for Workers’ Accident The benefits are paid only when the injuries and diseases are “results from employment.” Ministry of Labor issued recognition guidelines. 2001 new guidelines recognized workers’ accident in case of overtime over 100 hours per month.