"外国人労災、初の６千人超 ２４年、安全教育行き届かず," 30 November 2025

[Unofficial description by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

According to an announcement by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of work-related injuries and deaths among foreign workers exceeded 6,000 for the first time in 2024. As of 2024, there are approximately 2.3 million foreign workers in Japan, of whom 6,244 suffered fatalities or injuries resulting in four or more days of work absence due to work-related accidents. By residence status, 2,283 were permanent residents or spouses of Japanese nationals, 1,874 were technical intern trainees, and 810 were specified skilled workers. The number of fatalities reached 39, the highest since statistics began in 2019.

Since 2019, when the number of casualties was in the 3,900 range, the figures have continued to rise to record highs. Officials at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare analysed that insufficient education on safety management and poor communication are considered contributing factors.