Ruling parties mull relief fund for pneumoconiosis sufferers+

TOKYO, March 17 Kyodo - The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner the New Komeito party on Tuesday began to consider setting up a relief fund for former workers suffering from pneumoconiosis as a result of taking part in state-ordered tunnel construction projects, ruling coalition members said.

The governing parties envision having the general contractor industry
contribute to the fund, which, if realized, would provide monetary relief to
patients with the disease of the lungs usually contracted by prolonged exposure
to irritants such as dust.
While major construction companies involved in a series of damages suits filed
by such patients have begun to agree on settlement packages, the plaintiffs
have called for the establishment of a fund from which they will be able to
receive compensation without having to file lawsuits.
The LDP and New Komeito aim to put together a bill after making arrangements
concerning the total fund amount, the levels of compensation depending on the
severity of symptoms and contributions to the fund, and present it to the
ongoing Diet session as a lawmaker-initiated legislation proposal, the members
said.
But the tasks ahead may take some time as the general contractor industry may
show reservations about contributing to the anticipated fund, they said.
In informal negotiations thus far, the ruling lawmakers have floated the idea
of setting up four levels of compensation based on the pneumoconiosis law, with
the maximum total benefit for patients with the severest symptoms amounting to
a little more than 10 million yen, according to the members.
A lawmaker involved in the process said, ''The total amount of the fund would
change depending on the number of patients to be covered and the amounts of
compensation.''
The ruling parties are thinking of including a provision that would have the
general contractor industry manage workers' records, such as employment periods
and medical examination results, in an integrated way because employment
contracts are often concluded separately for each construction project, the
members said.
They will also consider allowing major construction firms to include the money
contributed as allowable expenses and procure funds for the contribution
through government-guaranteed loans as part of efforts to gain the
understanding of the general contractor industry, they said.
The relief fund is also aimed at working on measures to prevent the occurrence
of pneumoconiosis, they said.
Separately from lawsuits filed against general contractors, former workers who
have developed pneumoconiosis from engaging in tunnel construction projects
have filed damages suits against the state in courts across Japan from 2002.
In June 2007, a group of former tunnel construction workers reached a
settlement with the state at the Tokyo High Court to give up their claim on
compensation in exchange for the government pledging to step up measures for
workers against pneumoconiosis.
They were the first among around 970 plaintiffs across the nation to reach a
settlement with the government.
Pneumoconiosis is an occupational disease usually contracted by habitual
inhalation of irritants, which harden and eventually kill cells in the lungs.
Some people develop the disease 10 years or more after initial exposure to
irritants.