The great Japanese re-think: firms review employee overtime

Just over half of Japanese firms are reviewing rules on working hours, with many looking to cut down on overtime a Reuters poll has shown.

A government campaign for more employee-friendly labour practices has gained traction, following an employee from advertising agency Denstu committing suicide – allegedly from working 105 hours of overtime in one month.

The suicide, later ruled by the government as karoshi, ‘death by overwork’ has led to an uproar of public grievances on social media as well as raids on Dentsu by the labour ministry – The Japan Times reports.

The Reuters Corporate Survey found that 56% of companies were looking at changes to working hours.