Japan urged to improve labor conditions at Tokyo Games sites

May 17, 2019

Tokyo, May 16 (Jiji Press)--An international labor union federation has found harsh labor conditions at construction sites for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and urged the organizing committee of the events and the Japan Sport Council to take corrective measures.

According to a report compiled by Geneva-based Building and Wood Workers International, or BWI, some laborers worked for 28 consecutive days at the site for the athletes' village, while others worked for 26 days running at the site for the new National Stadium.

The report also said that some workers had to purchase equipment to protect their bodies out of their own pocket and that a worker felt in danger when some concrete blocks were shaking due to strong winds overhead.

BWI has been surveying labor conditions at construction sites for international events for over 10 years.

The federation started the survey on the Tokyo Games in 2016 and conducted hearings with workers at the new National Stadium, the games' main venue, in February this year.

A 23-year-old male construction worker at the new National Stadium site committed suicide in March 2017. He was an employee of a subcontractor taking part in the construction project.

A labor standards inspection office concluded that his suicide was linked to his work at the site, noting that more than 190 hours he worked overtime in the month right before the suicide caused him to suffer mental disorder.

The report pointed out that two workers have died in connection with the Tokyo Games.

The organizing committee said that it is checking the report and will consider how to respond.

The JSC said it has been urging contractors to ensure their compliance with law and appropriate labor management. Jiji Press