Japan Train Driver Sues Employer For Rs 14 Lakh After His Wages Were Docked Over Minute-Long Delay

A train driver in Japan is suing his employer after his wages-56 yen (Rs 36)-were docked for causing a brief delay to the country's notoriously punctual rail system.

The male driver, who works for the Okayama branch of JR West, is seeking payment in unpaid wages after a mishap that occurred during his shift on June 18 last year, which caused a one-minute delay to operations, BBC reported.

Pakutaso

The employee, who was not named, had been scheduled to drive an empty train to Okayama station in the southern part of the country that morning, as per Japan Today. However, he arrived at the wrong platform and waited to take over from the previous driver.

He hurried to the correct platform but the error meant the train's departure and arrival to the depot were both delayed by one minute, leading the JR West to deduct 85 yen (Rs 55) from his July pay packet.

Representational Image/AFP

The company later agreed to reduce the fine to 56 yen ($0.49) after the employee brought the case to the Okayama Labor Standards Inspection Office.

Still believing this was unreasonable, due to the fact that the error caused no damage to the company and no disruption to train timetables as the train was empty, the driver decided to take the matter to the Okayama District Court in March.

Representational Image/Kyodo News

The driver is now seeking compensation of 43 yen, which was deducted for the one-minute delay, 13 yen in overtime created by the delay, and 2.2 million yen (Rs 14.4 lakh) for mental anguish.

While the driver believes his pay shouldn¡¯t be docked, as the incident occurred during his work shift, the company says it applied the ¡°no work, no pay principle¡± as the reason for the wage cut, in the same way, they would in cases of late arrival to work or absenteeism.

The driver criticized the company for "using wage cuts as 'sanctions' for human error" and that small mistakes should not be considered a breach of contract.

Japan is known for its efficient public transport systems and rail operators apologize for delays, even if by a minute.

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