Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. has agreed to pay more than 100 million yen in compensation to a former head of its research and development center in Nagasaki for overwork and other health-related conditions, his lawyer said.
According to an out-of-court settlement, Mitsubishi Heavy also agreed to apologize to Yoshio Kayo, 59, for violating health care regulations and promised to protect the health care rights of workers.
Kayo sought compensation from the major heavy machinery manufacturer, saying he had to work about 70 percent of all his Saturdays since he became the chief of the center in 1991. He had a heart attack in 1994. He later claimed to suffer from dementia, which he said stemmed from overwork.
Kayo's lawyer and other supporters said the settlement is rare because of its huge sum and the apology clause.
Mitsubishi Heavy said it was pleased with the out-of-court settlement and vowed to prevent a recurrence of such work-related problems.
The two parties negotiated an out-of-court settlement after Kayo won a workmen's accident compensation suit against the Nagasaki prefectural labor office in March 2004.