"年末年始の休暇禁止…相模鉄道、残業150時間、1カ月連続勤務でギリギリ運行," 7 December 2024

[Unofficial description by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

Sagami Railway Co.,Ltd. crew members are being forced to work excessive overtime, the Business Journal reported.

There are crew members who work overtime for more than 100 hours a month, and there are also notices that effectively prohibit holidays during the year-end and New Year, so there are people who are in a situation that might violate the Article 36 Agreement. Some told the Business Journal that "100 hours of overtime and three nights and four days at the office is the norm."

In the case of railway crew members, the "high-level professional workers' system" applies and they may be exempt from the working hours regulations of the Labor Standards Act, but even in these cases the upper limit is 100 hours per month, and 240 hours over three months.

The Business Journal has asked Sagami Railway’s public relations department to confirm the facts of this information, but has not received a response so far.