Apr 25 (NHK) - The coronavirus outbreak has forced the halt of thousands of construction projects in Japan, putting jobs of subcontractors and other workers at risk.
NHK surveyed 20 major construction companies and found that work has been suspended at about 3,000 sites across Japan. Some were put on hold after employees working at the site tested positive for the virus.
Shimizu Corporation was erecting a 12-story office building in central Tokyo that would have been completed by the end of next March. But the company decided to halt construction until May 6 after talks with the client.
Shimizu says it checked the workers' temperatures and implemented other anti-infection measures, but decided to suspend work after the government declared a state of emergency early this month.
An industry group says about 3.3 million people are working at construction sites across the country. Most of them are employees of small subcontractors or self-employed.
Without compensation or financial support from prime contractors, these small firms may be unable to pay wages or maintain jobs for their workers.
The land and infrastructure ministry is urging major construction firms to ensure that their subcontractors can continue business.
