The government on Tuesday accepted a ruling coalition proposal to give 3 million yen in condolence money and funeral fees to people who lost family members to asbestos-linked diseases, 200,000 yen more than the government's initial proposal.
Based on the accord reached by the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito earlier in the day, the government will draw up a bill as quickly as possible so it can be submitted to the Diet early next year, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told a news conference.
The coalition task force raised the value of the one-time payment, which is to be given to next of kin not covered by industrial accident insurance, after New Komeito demanded more than was initially proposed.
The agreement provides for one-time condolence payment of 2.8 million yen plus funeral fees of 200,000 yen.
The government adopted an outline of draft legislation on redress for asbestos victims in November, but it included no specific sums. Later, the government presented the ruling parties with a plan for a one-time payment of 2.6 million yen and funeral fees of 200,000 yen.
Besides the one-time compensation, the two parties agreed that a 2.4 million yen annuity should be provided to relatives of employees who missed the deadline to be recognized as eligible for industrial accident insurance.
The agreement also calls for about 100,000 yen in monthly medical payments to residents and employees' families suffering from asbestos-linked diseases, as those people are not covered by industrial accident insurance.
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