In an on going problem with subcontractors hired to help clean up after the disaster at the Daiichi Nuclear power plant in Fukushima its been relieved once again that those directly involved in the clean up are not only undertrained for the purpose but are being paid less than a living wage to do so.
Substandard wages and working conditions at Fukushima have been a problem thanks to the less than forthright nature of TEPCO the company responsible for cleaning up and deactivating the facility.
Oversight is completely lacking in the government's dealings with these construction companies which allows them to exploit their workers and loopholes in the law all for increased profit.
Substandard wages and working conditions at Fukushima have been a problem thanks to the less than forthright nature of TEPCO the company responsible for cleaning up and deactivating the facility.
Monday, Reuters revealed that within the $35 billion web of government contracts some of the largest construction companies in Japan remain blissfully unaware of what their subcontractors are doing. This includes in Sendai, the largest city in the disaster zone, hiring homeless men to aid in the clean-up, “removing topsoil, cutting grass and scrubbing down houses,” for less than minimum wage.
“In one case, a 55-year-old homeless man reported being paid the equivalent of $10 for a full month of work at Shuto,” Reuters writes. “The worker’s paystub, reviewed by Reuters, showed charges for food, accommodation and laundry were docked from his monthly pay equivalent to about $1,500, leaving him with $10 at the end of the August.”
Oversight is completely lacking in the government's dealings with these construction companies which allows them to exploit their workers and loopholes in the law all for increased profit.
In January, October and November, Japanese gangsters were arrested on charges of infiltrating construction giant Obayashi Corp’s network of decontamination subcontractors and illegally sending workers to the government-funded project.
In the October case, homeless men were rounded up at Sendai’s train station by Sasa, then put to work clearing radioactive soil and debris in Fukushima City for less than minimum wage, according to police and accounts of those involved.The men reported up through a chain of three other companies to Obayashi, Japan’s second-largest construction company.
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