Two Plant Workers Die After Being Buried Under Wood

Two plant workers die after being buried under wood

Two of three workers rescued on Monday who were buried under a pile of scrap wood that fell on them have died. But the third worker in the accident at a plant of a building-materials maker in central Japan is expected to fully recovery.

Firefighters say they received an emergency call from the Chiyoda Ute plant in Kawagoe Town, Mie Prefecture, around 11:20 a.m. that morning.

Toyota Gr Yaris Livery Contest Winner Honors Essential Workers

Toyota GR Yaris livery contest winner honors essential workers

To close out an insane year, Toyota U.K. has pulled the wraps off a GR Yaris that pays tribute to essential workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Revealed at the WRC season closer in Monza, Italy, the car is decorated with a mural designed by a 16-year-old high school student as part of a "Design a Rally Car Livery" art contest sponsored by Toyota and Wales Rally Great Britain.

The car, you may notice, is wearing the unofficial symbol of 2020 — a face mask with elastic straps wrapped around the side mirrors. Along its sides are profiles of a nurse, teacher, construction worker, shopkeeper and a police officer, representing professions that have kept the world turning during the health crisis.

Japanese Scale Measures Stress Of Covid-19 Workers

Japanese scale measures stress of COVID-19 workers

A group of researchers in Japan has developed a tool to detect mental distress in medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medical workers are said to be at high risk of developing mental health problems due to fears of coronavirus infection and social stigma.

Workers In Critical Retail Sector Face Harassment

Workers in critical retail sector face harassment

A survey by a labor union has found that workers in the critical retail sector, including supermarkets and drugstores, have been subject to abusive customer behavior stemming from the new coronavirus outbreak.

Industrial union UA ZENSEN polled its members in the retail and service industries between July and September. About 27,000 responded.

Myanmar Specified Skilled Workers Head To Japan

Myanmar specified skilled workers head to Japan

Two people from Myanmar have left for Japan to work in the country under a new visa category.

Thet Ko Htoo, aged 25, and Htet Shein Win, aged 21, left an airport in the city of Yangon on Wednesday. They will work at a resort hotel in Nago City in the southern prefecture of Okinawa.

Report: Hackers Targeting Remote Workers

Report: Hackers targeting remote workers

The cyber security firm Kaspersky Lab says it has found an increasing number of cyberattacks targeting those working from home.

The firm conducted a survey of cyberattacks involving people connecting their computers to servers at their offices or other places of work.

Flower Park Lights Up To Thank Medical Workers

Flower park lights up to thank medical workers

A flower park north of Tokyo is honoring Japan's medical workers with a dazzling display of lights.

Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture kicked off the annual illumination event on Saturday with five million lights decorating the grounds.

Travel Industry Workers To Help Farmers

Travel industry workers to help farmers

NHK has learned that Japan's national farmers' organization is teaming up with one of the country's largest travel agencies to secure labor for farmers in need of helping hands.

Foreign technical trainees have mitigated labor shortages in Japan's agricultural sector, but there is a shortage this year as they cannot enter Japan due to coronavirus restrictions.

Workers Around Us Base In Okinawa Tested For Virus

Workers around US base in Okinawa tested for virus

People working around a US military base in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, have been tested for the coronavirus amid a rising number of cases at the base.

A local medical association and prefectural officials took test samples from about 200 people in Kin Town on Sunday. The people tested are taxi drivers and employees of bars and night clubs frequented by individuals connected to Camp Hansen, which is located in the town.

32,000 Workers In Japan Fired Amid Pandemic

32,000 workers in Japan fired amid pandemic

Japan's labor ministry says over 32,000 workers have been discharged by their employers or faced contract nonrenewal amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Ministry officials counted 32,348 such workers from the end of January through last Friday. Some 4,000 were added over the past week. The figures were taken from job placement agencies nationwide and other sources.

More Japanese Firms Ask Workers To Retire Early

More Japanese firms ask workers to retire early

More companies in Japan are asking staff to take early, voluntary retirement, as some of them struggle to weather the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Private research firm Tokyo Shoko Research says 41 companies did so during the first half of this year. That is already more than the 35 in the whole of last year. It is also the first time since 2010 that the figure has topped 40 in a six-month period.

Explosion At Central Japanese Honda Plant Injures 2 Workers

Explosion at Central Japanese Honda plant injures 2 workers

TOKYO — An explosion was reported at Honda Motor Co Ltd's plant in central Japan, police said on Sunday, with two workers sent to the hospital with burns.

The explosion at an electrical power distribution switchboard occurred at around 9:15 am local time (5:15 p.m. EDT Saturday) in Honda's plant in Suzuka city, Mie prefecture, an officer with the prefectural police said. Two workers in their 20s, who were checking the switchboard, were injured and sent to be treated, the officer said.

Workers In Covid-19 Alert Prefectures Asked To Wfh

Workers in COVID-19 alert prefectures asked to WFH

The Japanese government is to call on companies in Tokyo and 12 prefectures that are on a special coronavirus alert to reduce by at least 70 percent the number of their employees traveling to work.

Thursday marks exactly one month since the government declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and six prefectures, including Osaka.

Directive Issued Over Healthcare Workers' Children

Directive issued over healthcare workers' children

Japan's health ministry has issued a directive to local authorities to ensure that day care centers look after children of healthcare workers who are on the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak.

The directive is intended to help medical workers avoid staying at home, or taking a leave of absence to care for their children when demand for medical services is rising.