The government on Monday appealed a court order to pay ¥1.06 billion in compensation to construction workers who suffered asbestos-related diseases.

The Tokyo District Court ruled Dec. 5 that the government is responsible for compensating 158 of 308 former workers who sued over ineffective and insufficient regulation of asbestos.

The plaintiffs also plan to appeal the ruling because the court rejected their demand for compensation from 42 makers of construction materials containing asbestos.