Japanese court orders high compensation for injured foreign worker

The Chiba District Court ordered a metal processing company to pay approximately 9.6 million yen to a Chinese woman who suffered a severe industrial accident.

The woman lost a finger in 2022 while working as a technical intern in Chiba Prefecture. Judge Hisashi Oyasu ruled that the company violated its duty to ensure safety. In a landmark decision, the court calculated the woman's lost earnings based on Japanese wage standards until she reaches age 67.

The court considered her high Japanese language proficiency, her current work in a nursing facility, and her training to become a certified care worker. While previous cases often assumed foreign interns would return home after a few years, this ruling recognizes her high likelihood of remaining in Japan for a long career. The company has appealed the decision to the Tokyo High Court.