Workers Exposed to Radiation: Structure of 'Disposing of Workers' Highlighted in the Negotiation with the Government

Members of the Workers-Exposed-to-Radiation Project of the Emergency Action on the Fukushima Nuclear Crisis, trade unions, other civil society groups and individuals had negotiation with government officials on 11 October, seeking for better measures to protect workers at the disaster-hit Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant who are exposed to high levels of radiation. Ministries represented in the meeting were Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Most workers at the nuclear power plant are hired by subcontractors, often tertiary or more, that tend to fail in abiding by Labor Standards Act, Health Insurance Act and other regulations providing worker protection. Those attended the meeting submitted demands to the government and requested replies. The demands were  1) stricter administrative guidance for TEPCO and primary subcontractors to ensure that the worker protection regulations be observed by secondary and other subcontractors;  2) provision of livelihood insurance to the workers suspended from working after the ceiling exposure dose per year is exceeded; and 8 other items. (By MATSUMOTO Chie)

被ばく労働問題で政府交渉～浮かび上がる「使い捨て」の構図

福 島原発惨事以降、高い線量下ではたらかざるをえない労働者保護のため、１０月１１日に関係省庁との交渉が行われた。交渉に参加したのは、厚生労働省、文部科学省、環境省、経済産業省の各省と、福島原発事故緊急会議被曝労働問題プロジェクトをはじめとする個人や、労働組合や市民団体だった。下請け構造に支えられている原発労働について、労働基準法や健康保険法などの法律を順守するよう東電や元請け会社を指導すること、労働者が被曝線量を超過した後も生活保障することなど１０項目の要求に対しての各省から回答を求めた。（松元ちえ）