It is crucial to remain vigilant regarding the spread of the novel coronavirus. To strike a balance with economic activities, it is necessary to create a working environment in which people can work with peace of mind.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has summarized the situation regarding the recognition of workers' compensation related to coronavirus infections. About 400 claims have been filed, and fewer than 40 cases have been approved. Hopefully, the process of examining claims will be hastened, and the fact that people infected with the virus are eligible for workers' compensation will be widely publicized.
If an employee is found to be infected with the coronavirus and the cause is acknowledged to be work-related, they can receive about 80% of their salary from workers' compensation insurance, as compensation for absence from work. This insurance provides a higher payment than the sickness allowances from health insurance associations managed by private companies and others. In the event of an employee's death, benefits will be paid to the bereaved family.
The ministry has decided to recognize, in principle, the infection of medical and nursing care workers as work-related incidents eligible for compensation, except in cases where it is clear they were infected outside work. The ministry has notified labor bureaus in all prefectures about this policy.
The ministry also has instructed the labor bureaus to make an appropriate judgment on cases of infection in workplaces where more than two people have been infected, as well as in workplaces that require human contact, such as retail, transportation and childcare, because the ministry believes these infections are highly likely to be work-related.
The challenge is that it is difficult to identify the route of infection. As a result, there are few applications for compensation from people other than medical and nursing care workers.
Many employees may be hesitant to file a claim because they do not know whether the infection is related to their work. Specific, easy-to-understand guidelines need to be provided, including such content as example cases in which it was recognized that an employee's infection was connected to their work.
First and foremost, private companies should give top priority to preventing infections. Labor unions and other organizations continue to receive complaints from workers such as "the 3C [closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings] conditions in meetings have not been eliminated" and "staggered work hours are not permitted."
Healthcare, transportation, retail and other services are essential to economic activity and daily life. If more people leave their jobs out of fear of infection, society as a whole will suffer. Private companies should cooperate with the workers' compensation procedures.
It is also important to expand the scope of freelancers who can be covered by workers' compensation insurance. A special subscription program has been established for workers such as drivers of privately owned taxis and housekeepers. There are many other people who work without being employed by a company, and these cases should also be considered based on their circumstances.
Due to the prolonged coronavirus outbreak, an increasing number of people are telecommuting and otherwise working outside their usual offices. The line between work and private life has become blurred, making it difficult for many employers to keep track of actual working conditions. The number of cases in which it is difficult to recognize workers' compensation is expected to increase.
Workers' compensation insurance is a safety net to protect people's lives. It is essential to constantly review the system and its operation in response to diverse working styles.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on June 29, 2020
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
