As fear over the coronavirus grips Japan, labor unions say they are receiving a growing number of reports from people who have faced discrimination at the hands of their bosses and harassment by customers frustrated with merchandise shortages.
A 73-year-old woman working at a manufacturing company in Nara said her manager shouted for her colleague in early April to stop asking the woman to eat together. She also found out that the same manager had told another colleague to stay away from her.
"I can only think of the novel coronavirus as the reason. I am commuting from Osaka," where the number of infections has been growing, she said.