A Guide to the Japanese Workers’ Accident Compensation Insurance for Foreign Nationals
Revised date: 31/May/2017
In Japan, there is a system for workers’ accident compensation insurance called rodo saigai hosho hoken (Rosai), that covers workers regardless of their nationality. Any foreign national working in Japan, with a residential qualification (visa) zairyu-shikaku will be covered by the Rosai.
The Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare (MHLW) kosei rodo sho runs the Rosai scheme.
The Rosai covers people for work-related injury, illness, and disability. In the case of a worker’s death, the worker’s family receives compensation through the Rosai scheme. The Rosai also runs projects for worker rehabilitation to assist workers in getting back to work. A foreign national who is living in Japan with a Family visa, and who is working part-time, must also be enrolled into the Rosai by their employer.
Rosai levies are paid by the employer. Employees, including foreign national workers, are covered but do not pay any levies for this scheme.
The employer must submit an Insurance Relation Establishment Report to the Labour Standards Inspection Office rodo kijun kantoku-sho within 10 days of the commencement of employment of a worker, and complete the enrolment of the worker into the Rosai. Some employers incorrectly think that the Rosai does not apply to employees who are foreign nationals, and do not enrol them into the scheme.
If a worker has an accident at work or becomes ill from their work, and the employer has failed to enrol them into the Rosai, the insurance benefit would still be paid to the worker, and in the case of death, their family will still receive compensation. If a Rosai claimable event happens and the employer has ignored the Rosai process then the employer could be subject to heavy penalties.
Rosai cover includes both compensation and expenses. For workers affected by work-related injury and/or sickness, compensation is available for loss of income, injury and/or sickness, and disability. In the case of a work-related death, the scheme provides compensation for bereaved family members. The Rosai also covers expenses associated with a work-related injury and/or sickness such as medical fees, carer fees, secondary health check fees, and funeral expenses. If a claimable event happens when commuting to or from work, the worker is covered by the Rosai as well. There are also special payments provided for worker welfare projects by the Rosai.
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