Secrecy over poor conditions and pay for Fukushima cleanup workers

While the radiation at Fukushima continues to leak out, the same can’t be said about information regarding working conditions at the plant.

Fukushima secrecy over workers and conditions ABC Radio A.M. Mark Willacy reported this story on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 TONY EASTLEY: Still in Japan and the ABC has obtained documents revealing the lengths being taken to keep work at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant secret and to stop workers there from actually talking to the media.

One former worker at the plant has told the ABC how they were given sub-standard protective gear after the accidents.

North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy reports from Iwaki City in Fukushima.

MARK WILLACY: Inside the leeching and twisted remains of the Fukushima nuclear plant 3000 workers are labouring to stabilise the melted reactor cores.

It’s dirty and dangerous work, and some workers claim they’re being exposed and exploited.

(Sound of Fukushima worker speaking)MARK WILLACY: “I was not told how much radiation I would be exposed to or how high the radiation would be,” says this man who worked at the Fukushima plant during the meltdowns. “They just gave me an anorak to wear and sent me to work. I worked at installing vents inside the reactor buildings to get rid of the steam so we could avert another explosion,” he tells me.

There’s a good reason why this Fukushima worker doesn’t want his identity revealed and that’s because like others, he’s been gagged.

The ABC has obtained a document drawn up by one of the Fukushima subcontractors. It demands that its employees at the plant keep all of their work secret and under no circumstances are they permitted to talk to the media.

It seems that as well as radioactive leaks, the operator fears media leaks nearly as much.

But that hasn’t stopped Hiroyuki Watanabe from snooping about.

(Sound of Hiroyuki Watanabe speaking)

MARK WILLACY: “Right after the meltdowns some workers were not even given face masks with filters in them,” says the Communist Party councillor from Iwaki, a city 45 kilometres from the nuclear plant. “Others had to share rubber boots. Some of the boots had holes in them that let in radioactive water in,” he says…..

Iwaki City Councillor Hiroyuki Watanabe says the situation at Fukushima is still chaotic. He’s collected dozens of files on safety breaches at the plant, as well as the alleged underpayment of workers.(sound of Hiroyuki Watanabe speaking)

MARK WILLACY: “Subcontractors working for TEPCO have ripped off their employees,” he tells me. “Some workers are paid as little as $80 a day,” he says.

The former Fukushima worker we spoke to confirmed this, saying he left because his subcontractor wages were much less than those paid to TEPCO employees.

For its part, TEPCO pleads ignorance when it comes to what its subcontractors pay its employees…… While the radiation at Fukushima continues to leak out, the same can’t be said about information regarding working conditions at the plant. http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3385165.htm

December 9, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | civil liberties, employment, Japan

No comments yet.

nuclear-news

The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope