New rules for compensation

July 20, 2012

Govt sets compensation rules for Fukushima

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120720_18.html

The Japanese government has compiled guidelines to speed up compensation for Fukushima residents forced to evacuate after last year's nuclear power plant accident.

The plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, is already dealing with the compensation issues based on guidelines created by a government committee of experts. But payments have been delayed because of wide differences in claims between the residents and the utility.

The new guidelines have been compiled by the industry ministry, which oversees the utility. They say that people who evacuated after the nuclear disaster and cannot return home for 6 or more years should be compensated for the full value of their houses.

The guidelines set out a procedure for older houses, which usually would not carry an appraisal amount. They recommend assessing for at least 20 percent of their value at the time they were built.

The industry paper also says that people who lost their jobs or businesses because they evacuated should receive lump sum payments, depending on their line of work.

Tokyo Electric Power says it will present a new compensation standard of its own next week in line with the industry ministry's guidelines.