#LabourRights

Japan has officially recognized an unprecedented number of overwork-related deaths and health disorders in fiscal year 2024, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. The ministry reported 1,304 government-recognized cases of so-called “karoshi” (death from overwork), representing a year-on-year increase of 196 cases. This surge sets a new record for work-related deaths and health issues in Japan—most of them involving strokes, heart conditions, depression, and other mental disorders, with the majority of the cases categorized as mental health disorders (nippon.com). Notably, this marks the first time Japan has reached over 1,000 officially recognized work-related mental health disorder cases in a single year—a stark warning for both policymakers and employers.

A devastating mental health crisis has engulfed Japan’s workforce, with official government data revealing the highest number of recognized overwork deaths and disorders ever recorded in the nation’s history. The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare has confirmed 1,304 cases of “karoshi”—literally meaning death from overwork—during fiscal year 2024, marking a shocking 196-case increase from the previous year. This unprecedented surge represents far more than statistical concern; it signals a fundamental breakdown in workplace safety that has transformed Japan’s corporate culture into a lethal environment for millions of workers.

As global heatwaves break records and Thailand faces ever more intense hot seasons, recent research is shining a stark light on a question more pressing than ever: When is it simply too dangerous to work? The health risks posed by heat stress are rising, while legal protections and public awareness lag behind the warming reality—a gap that presents major challenges for Thai workers, especially the millions laboring outdoors or in poorly cooled indoor environments.

In a groundbreaking push for gender equality and better parental support, British fathers are being urged to join the world’s first “Dad strike”, amplifying demands for more generous paternity leave in the United Kingdom, where statutory provisions remain among the lowest in Europe. The movement is set to culminate in a public protest with fathers and their babies outside the Department for Business and Trade in London on June 11, aiming to pressure the government into reforming policies for dads and non-birthing partners. The campaign reflects growing international attention to the critical role of fathers in early childhood and the wider debate about work-life balance amid changing social norms.