Compensating For Asbestos Exposure
Japan's Health Ministry says more than 1,000 cases of asbestos-induced lung cancer were recognized last year as being work-related and eligible for compensation.
The ministry says 1,059 people were recognized in fiscal 2020, which ended in March, as having developed lung cancer or mesothelioma after inhaling asbestos while working at construction sites or factories.
The ministry adds that another 20 people were recognized as being eligible to receive a special grant for bereaved families, for whom the right to claim workers' compensation had run out.
Five-hundred 89 workers in the construction industry received the recognition. The figure was 384 in the manufacturing industry.
The development period of asbestos-induced lung cancer is more than 10 years, but it can range up to 50 years in some cases.
The ministry says more people may step forward with claims of health problems in the future. It is calling on people to consult with it if they have asbestos-related worries.
A new benefit system is expected to start in fiscal 2022 for those suffering from asbestos-induced conditions and bereaved families who have not filed compensation lawsuits. The system is based on a Supreme Court ruling, which acknowledged the responsibility of the government and others for the damage.