Traditionally, Japanese workers are very loyal employees. They created an extravagant nation with a prominence economy despite the devastation of World War II that they have went through and the huge war reparations they have paid in the post-war decades but who thought it will be the trigger for a deadly phenomenon named "Karoshi" (過労死, Karōshi).
It literally means "overwork death" in Japanese. This term has been used since the1970s. It’s not a pure medical term but a sociomedical one that refers to fatalities or associated work disability due to cardiovascular attacks such as brain strokes, myocardial infarction or acute cardiac failure aggravated by heavy workload and long working hours. The phenomenon was first coined in 1978, in Japan, the result of increasing numbers of people dying from overwork.
It became a serious social problem in Japan to the point where a group of lawyers and doctors set up "karoshi hotlines" that are nationally available, dedicating to help those who seek consultation on karoshi-related issues. Moreover, Japan used a government policy to force companies to reduce work hours.
In an International Labour Organization article about karoshi, the following four typical cases of karoshi were stated:
1) Mr. A worked at a major snack food processing company for as long as 110 hours a week (not a month) and died from a heart attack at the age of 34. His death was recognized as work-related by the Labour Standards Office.
2) Mr. B, a bus driver, whose death was also recognized as work-related, worked 3,000 hours a year. He did not have a day off in the 15 days before he had a stroke at the age of 37.
3) Mr. C worked in a large printing company in Tokyo for 4,320 hours a year including night work and died from a stroke at the age of 58. His widow received workers' compensation 14 years after her husband's death.
4)Ms. D, a 22-year-old nurse, died from a heart attack after 34 hours of continuous duty five times a month.
As well as physical pressure, mental stress causes Karoshi. In fact, Employees who worked under pressure and accumulated frustration, commit suicide because of the economic recession, not being able to achieve the goals set by the company and forced resignation especially after many loyal years of working. This phenomenon is called by the term karō-jisatsu (過労自殺).
The phenomenon is known internationally. For example, in South-korea, it goes by the term gwarosa(과로사). South-koreans have some of the longest working hours in the world. China also set the term guolaosi.
even though asian countries build their nations from ashes, the consequences are unhuman.
by zeineb lamine
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