The national government and the Shiga Prefectural Government will not appeal a court decision ordering them to pay damages for the abuse of mentally disabled workers at a Shiga company, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi and Shiga officials said Friday.

It is rare for the government not to appeal a district court ruling that orders it to pay damages.

On March 24, the Otsu District Court ordered the national and prefectural governments, as well as the president of the company, to pay 277 million yen in compensation to 16 former employees and the parents of a deceased worker for abuses committed in the 1990s.