Workers decommissioning Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant have sued its operator Tokyo Electric (Tepco) over unpaid hazard pay, BBC reported.
The four men are demanding about 65m yen (£375,000; $620,000) in extra pay. They claim the compensation for removing contaminated debris and patrolling the plant has been inadequate given the risks involved.
It is the first time Tepco has faced legal action from Fukushima workers over pay and working conditions. If they win, it could set a precedent for thousands of other workers to come forward.
The lawsuit was filed by two current and two former workers at Fukushima. The Japanese utility company had no immediate comment.
“My health may be harmed some day,” one of the workers was quoted as telling Japanese broadcaster NHK. “I believe there are many people who can’t speak out about this kind of problem.
“I may get fired or may be given no further work. But I hope people will take this as an opportunity to speak up and get paid.”
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors went into meltdown after a massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 knocked out reactor cooling systems at the plant.
Subsequent radiation leaks made the surrounding areas around the plant unfit for habitation.
Tens of thousands of people had to leave their homes and businesses because of radioactive contamination, with the majority still unable to return home. The facility is operated by Tepco, which has spent billions of dollars on the clean-up and decommissioning of the plant.