Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan(ERCA)
Operation of the Asbestos-Related Health Damage Relief System
Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief (Act No.4 of 2006) took effect on March 27th 2006, in order to provide prompt relief sufferers of asbestos-related diseases and their bereaved families. Under the act, ERCA provides relief benefit, such as medical care expenses to sufferers of the designated diseases caused by inhaled asbestos, and to the bereaved of those who died of the diseases.
ERCA carries out 3 operations in accordance with the act:
- certification of patients, etc. of the designated diseases caused by asbestos in Japan
- disbursement of relief benefits to certified patients, etc.
- collecting contributions for relief benefits and other expenses (special contribution from business enterprises who meet certain conditions, such as the amount of asbestos they used)
*General contributions from business enterprises are collected by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Relief benefit delivery
1. Diseases covered by the benefits (designated diseases)
The following diseases caused by asbestos
1:mesothelioma 2:lung cancer (malignant neoplasm of lung and bronchus) 3:Asbestosis with heavy respiratory dysfunction 4:Diffuse Pleural Thickening with heavy respiratory dysfunction.
2.Relief benefit delivery
- 1: those eligible, types and amount of the benefits:
- a) those who are officially acknowledged as sufferers of the designated diseases caused by asbestos in Japan(certified patients)
- medical care expenses — born by the sufferers
- medical care allowances — 103,870円 a month
- funeral expenses — 199,000円 (Paid to the person who carried out the funeral)
- relief benefits adjustment money — Paid to the bereaved in case the certified patients died of designated diseases. (Up to 2,800,000,円 including medical care exepenses and medical care allowance which has already paid.)
- b) the bereaved of those who died of the designated diseases.
- special condolence for bereaved families — 2,800,000円
- special funeral expenses — 199,000円
- 2: certification
- In order to qualify for the relief benefit, you must be officially acknowledged as a sufferer of the designated diseases caused by asbestos in Japan.
3. Relief benefit expenses
ERCA establishes the Asbestos-Related Health Damage Relief Fund at the office of ERCA for the expense of relief benefit. This fund is raised from contributions from the central government, local governments and business enterprises.
Collection of contributions from business enterprises
- general contribution from business enterprises who are covered by Labour Insurance (applying the Labour Insurance contribution system)
- special contribution from business enterprises who meet certain conditions in accordance with the provision of the government ordinance, considering the amount of asbestos they used and the circumstances in which the outbreak of the designated diseases occurred, etc. (collected by ERCA)
If you have questions or need more information about the Asbestos-Related Health Damage Relief Benefit, please telephone
0120-389-931 (In Japan only)
10:00 - 17:00 Except Saturday, Sunday and holidays
Click here to see The outline of the system