Visually impaired man sues Osaka employment support facility over “corona harassment”

From The Tokyo Shimbun

April 15 2022

OSAKA – A 39-year-old man with visual and hearing impairments claims that he suffered emotional distress because he was prohibited from going to work with a colleague who was assisting him and was advised to resign because he had been infected with a new type of coronavirus. On 15 April, it was learned that he had filed a lawsuit with the Osaka District Court, seeking 3.3 million yen in damages from Tennoji-ku, Osaka.

The man claims that the company lacks reasonable consideration for people with disabilities and that it is illegal “corona harassment” and that “it is unacceptable that they continue to run the business with impunity and without apology”. The first oral arguments will be held on 21st this month. The facility has stated in interviews that it has left the matter to its lawyers and has no comment.