Japan May Ease Criteria for Compensating Suicide

Families of Japanese workers who commit suicide due to overwork and depression may have the rules concerning compensation liberalized shortly. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is planning to ease the criteria for compensation as the nation faces growing numbers of work-related suicides the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Thursday. According to the ministry, over 90 percent of suicide deaths in 2003 were likely related to depression. In addition, the number of applications for workers' compensation over suicidal depression related to work hit a record-high 121 in fiscal 2003 -- 60 ti...