過労死 (Karōshi)’s phenomenon and its collective existential damage

Lauro Ericksen

doi:10.15448/1984-7289.2020.2.34255

Authors

Lauro Ericksen Centro Universitário Facex (UniFacex), Natal, RN, Brasil. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4195-1799

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1984-7289.2020.2.34255

Keywords:

Labor Law, Fundamental Rights, Overwork death (Karōshi), Existentialism, Existential damage

Abstract

This paper discusses 過労死 (Karōshi)’s phenomenon, stating it as a social labor-related issue. It presents Karōshi as sudden death by overworking. This paper objective consists in showing it as a singular and particular case of Japanese workaholism, rooted in its own cultural work system, conceptualizing Karōshi as a singularity in Japanese cultural system, putting it, and also 過労自殺 (Karōjisatsu), as an existential damage beyond the individual worker. Karōshi surpasses the line of personal damage and can be considered a cultural collective damage.

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Author Biography

Lauro Ericksen, Centro Universitário Facex (UniFacex), Natal, RN, Brasil.

Professor at the Centro Universitário Facex (UniFacex), Natal, RN, in graduate program on Law and Work Process. PhD in Philosophy (2016) from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Degree in Law (2008) at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). Studies in Law and Work Process (2010) at the Universidade Cândido Mendes in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Public servant at the Tribunal Regional do Trabalho 21.

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