Death by overwork, karoshi, has reached record numbers in Tokyo. "Labor demand, with 1.28 jobs per applicant, is the highest since 1991, which should help Prime Minister Shinzo Abe draw more people into the workforce to counter the effect of a shrinking population, but lax enforcement of labor laws means some businesses are simply squeezing more out of employees, sometimes with tragic consequences." Claims rose to 1,456 in March in areas facing chronic worker shortages such as healthcare, social services, shipping and construction.
This reminds me of the harsh working conditions in America before labor unions, such as the American Federation of Labor, made the work place a humane environment. They pushed for 8-hour work days, 40-hour work weeks, higher wages, and altogether better working conditions. Before that, many people were getting injured in factories and child labor was common.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/death-overwork-rise-among-japans-vulnerable-workers-011205871--business.html
People in these countries always get worked like this and it was bound to happen some time
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