“過勞死”拉響職場警鐘

The shocking data and lively cases repeatedly alarm people. As the cases of “karoshi” became more and more frequent in China， Japan， US， UK， and Australia， national intervention was finally provoked. How to keep ourselves from “karoshi” has become a heated issue for both governmental officials and ordinary people.

一組組驚人的數據，一個個鮮活的案例，一遍遍向人們敲響著警鐘。隨著“過勞死”案例在中國、日本、美國、英國、澳大利亞等國家的頻發，最終都催生了國家式的干預。如何遠離“過勞死”，已經成為從各國政府官員到普通民眾探討的熱門話題。

Japan

日本

Japan adopted the system of “afterward relief”， including clear regulations in legislation that if over-fatigue causes suicide， it will be considered as a labor disaster （equals a labor injury in China）， and insurance for “labor disasters” can be applied to have access to treatment compensation， damage compensation， and surviving dependent compensation. In recent years， the Japanese government has started to modify the identification standard of “karoshi”. The working conditions of the 6 months before death should be investigated instead of only one week to get an accurate “accumulation of fatigue”. Factors outside working hours should also be taken into consideration， including the frequency of business trip and working environment. In addition， it also regulates enterprise’s duty to guarantee the security of laborers.

在“過勞死”居高不下的日本，實行的是事后救濟制度。包括在立法中明確規定，如果疲勞過度以及疲勞過度導致自殺，將被認定為勞動災害（簡稱“勞災”，相當于中國的工傷），可以提起“勞災”保險申請，從而享受到療養補償、損害補償、遺屬補償等。近年來，日本政府已經開始修改“過勞死”的認定標準。從只調查死亡之前一個星期內的工作狀況改為調查6個月內的情況，以掌握“疲勞積蓄度”，并將除工作時間之外的其他主要原因考慮在內，如出差的頻繁程度、工作環境等。另外，還規定了企業保障勞動者安全的義務。

According to a report of NHK， in this meeting held by the Japan Partisan Parliamentary Union， apart from the congressmen of the party out of office， about 40 people who lost their families due to “karoshi” were also present. LDP member of the House of Representatives Chi Hao presented a program proposed by the LDP. It pointed out that the governmental support should be definite in the prevention of “karoshi” and “suicides caused by over-fatigue”. Before that， the Japanese government set up a consultation headed by experts and constituted by victims of “karoshi” and people who lost their families due to “karoshi”. Based on the suggestions proposed by the consultation， the outline of the program was drafted for the cabinet to decide. Moreover， the Japanese government also conducts practical investigations， conducts the research on effective prevention policies， rectifies the consultation system and relevant enlightenment movement， and supports the activities of civil society.

據日本NHK電視臺報道稱，在此次由日本超黨派議員聯盟舉行的會談中，除了在野黨的國會議員外，因“過勞死”、“過勞自殺”而失去親人的家屬約40人也參與其中。會談時，自民黨眾院議員遲浩闡述了自民黨的提案，該提案指出希望在預防“過勞死”和“過勞自殺”時能明確政府的支持。在此之前，日本政府設立了磋商會，參會者以專家為首，再加上曾經經歷過因“過勞”而身患重病之人以及因其死亡之人的家屬們。以磋商會上提出的意見為基礎，確定了預防方針的基本大綱，并將在內閣會議上進行定奪。此外，日本政府還會進行實際調查、對有效預防政策進行研究、整頓咨詢體制及相關啟蒙活動，并對民間團體活動進行支援。

Western capitalist countries

西方資本主義國家

Differently from Japan， in western capitalism countries with advanced employment system， beforehand prevention and afterward relief are usually adopted together. For instance， the US and European countries tend to adopt beforehand preventions.

In the US， people call “karoshi” chronic fatigue syndrome， and relevant diagnostic criteria were drafted. If the deaths of employees meet those standards， the employer shall shoulder particular legal responsibilities. In order to reduce the pressure of employees， US companies set up the flexible work system； EU and its member states set up laws and regulations like Health and Safety at Work Laws， which requires companies to provide employees with health guarantee and psychological support. If an accident is identified as “karoshi”， the employer will be held responsible.

與日本不同的是，在雇傭制度發達的西方資本主義國家，對“過勞死”問題的處理一般采取事前預防與事后救濟相結合的辦法。比如，美國和歐洲各國普遍采用事前預防措施。

在美國，人們將“過勞死”稱之為慢性疲勞綜合征，并擬定了相應的診斷標準。如果職工死亡符合這些標準，雇主將承擔一定的法律責任。為了給員工減壓，美國公司制定了彈性工作制度；歐盟及各成員國則制定了《健康與安全工作法》等法規，要求公司向員工提供健康保障及心理支持等。如果事故原因被認定為“過勞死”，就可以據此對雇主追責。

Taiwan， China

中國臺灣

Similarly with mainland China， Taiwan was also troubled by “karoshi” in recent years. According to the “checked cases of karoshi” released by the “Labor Committee” of Taiwan， in 2011， 88 people in Taiwan were designated as “over-fatigued”， and 48 people died of “karoshi”， i.e.， one death was caused by “karoshi” every 7.6 days in average， creating the highest record in history. Among them， one fourth was young people under 45， and another 40 people suffered injuries and diseases.

In response， Taiwan people are all calling for the prevention of “karoshi”. “Labor Committee” said that the legislature should accelerate the modification of the relevant legislations including “The Law of Laborer Safety and Hygiene” and “Professional Disaster Protection Law for Laborer” to increase employers’ responsibility for the prevention of “karoshi” and guarantee the professional safety of employees. In addition， the relevant punishment articles of Labor Standard Law cannot effectively constrain the employers’ behaviors. In the modification， the fines will be raised by 3 to 5 times， and an enterprise that makes employees work for excessive extra hours can be fined most 200，000 NT. The list of the enterprises that violate these regulations will be posted on public platforms and websites for the information of people.

與中國大陸一樣，臺灣近年也頗受“過勞死”的困擾。據臺灣“勞委會”發布的“過勞核付案件”資料顯示，全臺2011年共有88人被認定“過勞”，48人“過勞”致死，平均7.6天就有一人“過勞死”，創歷年來新高。其中，1/4是45歲以下的年輕人，另有40人過勞導致傷病。

為此，臺灣各界都在呼吁應遏制“過勞死”蔓延的趨勢。“勞委會”表示，“立法院”應加速推動“勞工安全衛生法”、“職業災害勞工保護法”等相關法令的修正，加強雇主預防“過勞死”的責任，保障員工職業安全。另外，《勞基法》的相關處罰條款對資方起不到多大的震懾作用，修法時將把罰款金額提高3至5倍，員工超時工作的企業最高可罰20萬元新臺幣，通過公開張貼布告及網站公布違法企業名單，供民眾查詢。

The legislation of mainland China needs to be improved

中國大陸亟待完善立法

In recent years， there are more and more voices calling for the including of “karoshi” in the scope of legislation， stressing that “karoshi” should not be the blind spot of legislation. At present， as the frontline of the reform and opening of China， Guangdong Province has started the survey of the legislation on “karoshi” and it may be the first pilot test area in the future. Member of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress Zhang Zhiya told us that the most challenging part of the legislation of “karoshi” lies in the identification of deaths. In order to make sure of the accuracy of identification， he suggested that medical sector should set standard criteria and diagnostic codes for “karoshi”. Zhang Zhiya also proposed that both enterprises and individual laborers should take precautions methods. “Enterprises have the responsibility to prevent ‘karoshi’ of employees， arrange free medical examinations for them regularly， and guarantee the psychological and physical health of them.”

近幾年來，在中國大陸將“過勞死”提上立法日程的呼聲不斷，民眾紛紛認為“過勞死”不應成為立法的盲區。目前，中國廣東省作為改革開放的前沿陣地，對“過勞死”的立法調研工作早已開始，未來不排除全國第一個試行專門立法的可能。據廣東省人大代表張志亞介紹，過勞死立法難在死亡原因的認定。為了確保認定的準確性，他建議盡快制定醫學認定“過勞死”的統一標準和診斷尺度。張志亞還提出了針對企業與勞動者個人的事前預防的建議，“企業有責任預防勞動者的過勞死行為，定期免費為勞動者安排體檢，保障員工的生理和心理健康。”

Many experts agreed that standard criteria are very necessary. In their opinions， “karoshi” should be defined clearly within the medical framework. At the same time， the legal framework should make a comprehensive system that provides the laborers with the right of health， the right of rest， and the right of life， which means the legal relief in the utmost extent. However， Doctor of the School of Labor and Human Resources of Renmin University of China Dong Shangwen said that the cognizance of “karoshi” is very complicated. “There is no such a disease called ‘karoshi’， and it is a long process of accumulation， which is all reflected by other forms. How to prove that this accumulation process is caused by work but not personal factors is very disputable.”

Lawyer of Beijing Dacheng Law Firm Du Liyuan argued that while “karoshi” is given a medical definition， “The Labor Law” should be improved and “Regulation on Work-Related Injury Insurances” should be modified. It should take “karoshi” as a case “considered as an industrial injury”. In terms of detailed criteria， the last 6 months before death should be investigated to see whether they’ve worked for over 80 extra hours a month， to be taken as the basis of “karoshi” cognizance.

確定統一判斷標準得到了多位受訪專家的認同，在他們看來，應在醫學框架內增加對“過勞死”的界定，同時在法律上構建包括保障勞動者休息權、健康權乃至生命權的一個完整系統的制度體系，給“過勞死”以最大限度的法律救濟。但是，中國人民大學勞動人事學院博士董尚雯坦言，認定“過勞死”的確十分復雜。“因為并沒有一種直接的病叫做‘過勞死’，這是一個長期積累的過程，而且都以其他形式表現出來。如何證明這種積累的過程是由工作而非自身因素引起，存在很大爭議。”

北京大成律師事務所杜立元律師則認為，在醫學上對‘過勞死’作出明確定義的同時，應對《勞動法》進行完善，修訂《工傷保險條例》，將“過勞死”作為“視同工傷”的一種情況。在具體標準上，可以考察勞動者在生前最后6個月內，每月加班是否超過80小時，以此作為判斷“過勞死”的依據。

Increase penalty

加大處罰力度

Zhu Lieyu， member of the NPC and National First-Class Lawyer， suggested the penalty for the enterprises that violate the rules to make the employees work for extra hours should be increased. When the extra hours are longer than the regulated 36 hours， the penalty for the excessive part can be multi-step in that the longer the extra hours are， the more the penalty is. Enterprise should encourage employees to work effectively and finish their tasks within the working time instead of working extra hours. Even if working extra hours is really necessary， it should be strictly controlled according to the relevant regulations. In addition， experts appeal to laborers for more attention to their own health. After all， it is the basis for everything.

針對當前對企業處罰力度不夠的現狀，中國人大代表、國家一級律師朱列玉建議，對違法企業尤其是加班嚴重超時的企業應處以更嚴厲的處罰。對超過法律規定的36小時的加班時間，可劃出超時等級實行階梯式處罰。超時加班時間越長，對企業的懲罰金額就應越多。企業應鼓勵員工在規定時間高效完成工作，而不是加班。即使加班，也應將加班時間嚴格控制在規定范圍內。除此之外，專家疾呼，勞動者自身也應對自己的健康多一些重視，畢竟這才是一切之本。