" 「家事代行」女性の過労死で、遺族と会社側が和解　「国は家事労働者にも労働基準法の適用を」法改正を訴え ," 8 April 2026

[Unofficial description by Business and Human Rights Centre]

In May 2015, a woman who had been arranged by a home-care agency worked for one week as a live-in carer in a household with a bedridden elderly person, remaining on call 24 hours a day. She later died from acute myocardial infarction.

The government initially refused to recognise her death as work-related, citing that domestic work is excluded from the scope of the Labour Standards Act. However, the High Court ruled that domestic workers employed and dispatched by a company fall within the scope of the Act, and ordered that the case be recognised as an industrial accident.

Following the ruling, her husband sought damages from the company. Finecare inc., which had merged with the company that employed the woman, agreed to a settlement, paying compensation and committing to preventive measures, including ensuring adequate rest intervals between shifts.

The woman’s husband stated, “I would like the government to ensure that the Labour Standards Act applies to domestic workers as well.”

Although the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has indicated its intention to abolish the exemption provisions under the Labour Standards Act, legislative reform has yet to progress.