Why are women’s injuries hidden? (Mar. 2025)

Why do female workplace injury claims appear to be fewer than male claims? It might be because the number of women covered by workers’ compensation insurance is inherently low, or it might be because even when covered, women are less likely to file workers’ compensation claims. Alternatively, it could be that even when filed, claims of women workers might be less likely to be approved. It might also be because women genuinely work in safer environments. This sparse Excel file revealed that the gender ratio of workers covered by workers’ compensation insurance in 2020 was 56% male and 45% female, suggesting that the difference in coverage alone does not explain the disparity in workplace injuries by gender. The approval rate for workers’ compensation claims related to occupational diseases was 62% for men and 59% for women, indicating that it is difficult for both genders. Then, in August 2024, this data was updated and uploaded to the public data portal, excluding the number of insured persons by gender. It currently remains the only data source containing the number of workers’ compensation insurance claimants by gender.

Labor Safety of Multiple Jobholders Focusing on Motivation and Time (2024)

The existence of “multi-jobbers,” inferred from various surveys, continues to be identified through existing indicators such as ‘side job workers,’ despite the lack of clear social consensus on the concept. Their numbers are estimated to range widely from approximately 2% to 17% of the total employed population, but the clear trend is that their numbers continue to increase. However, the concept of these “multi-jobbers” or a concrete understanding of their lives remains limited. Therefore, there is a need for further research and discussion commensurate with their scale.

As unstable labor conditions and self-managed, entrepreneurial subjectivity expand, the very nature of “labor time” is undergoing significant changes. How should labor time and non-labor time be distinguished today? This study aims to bridge this gap by exploring the boundaries of what is sometimes referred to as “work that doesn’t feel like work.”

KILSH is a public interest civil society group focusing on workers’ health and safety. We are working for healthy working conditions for all workers, and for workers to have greater autonomy in their workplaces. We meet and educate workers and trade unions on how to prevent occupational injuries and describe how to get involved in changing the working environment. 

We have worked on important issues such as musculoskeletal disorders, long working hours, overwork and mental illness. We have continued our work on workers’ health rights at small-sized businesses, female workers’ health, the climate crisis, the right to stop dangerous work and how risk assessment is conducted and used. These issues are described in our monthly magazine on occupational safety and health with different topics every month. Our translation team provides information about our activities in English.