Japan’s Labor Policy Includes Anime Workers Under Insurance

The entertainment labor laws have been a burning issue this month in Japan.

The Labor Policy Council of Japan has decided to include three new job types under the accidental industrial insurance policy that formerly covered employees from companies and big organizations.

The 3 new job types include:

• Workers in animation production industry
• Actors
• Bonesetters

Earlier the workers had to pay for any accidents or mishaps happening at work from their own pockets making the work environment even more of a risk.

Now, if the new policies are set into action, the employees will be sole proprietors who can apply for the special insurance scheme.

Actor Toshiyuki Nishida, the head of The Japan Actors Union, spoke to the Council about the concern regarding employees in the entertainment industry and the poor treatment they receive despite overworking to meet deadlines.

The Council, after much discussion, has decided to include the said jobs types to the policy by the end of the fiscal year 2021.

A Japanese news article observed that by the end of fiscal 2018, about 1.9 Million individuals were insured under the policy including taxi drivers and construction workers.

But, these 3 new job type inclusions might add 15,000 more individuals working for the entertainment industry.

Actors and animation workers who get work through their agencies or are instructed to work certain hours by the directors and producers can now opt for this special insurance that covers treatment costs, compensation for work leave or even accidental deaths.

This new policy decided by the Japanese Government is certainly a big step towards securing the work-life of freelance workers who work under certain industries without signing any permanent contracts.

And with the policy’s immediate effect, the entertainment industry might see a surge of new applicants applying for the once uninsured jobs.