The administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has started discussing a possible easing of working-hour regulations, raising concerns among labor officials that work-style reforms introduced in recent years could be rolled back, with employees forced to work longer hours.
A decade has passed since the shocking suicide of a young female employee at leading advertising agency Dentsu, a death attributed to overwork that helped spur debate on labor reform in Japan. Her mother is calling for the creation of a society that does not cost workers their lives and is closely watching how the deregulation discussions will unfold.
In December last year, shortly before the 10th anniversary of her daughter¡¯s death, 63-year-old Yukimi Takahashi held a tearful news conference in Tokyo, calling for stronger efforts to prevent deaths caused by overwork.
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