Today's Close-Up

Freelancing During the Pandemic (2020x15)

Air date: Apr 28, 2020

Sports instructors, tour guides, event staff ... in Japan, the number of freelance workers is thought to be over 3 million, many of whom have been hit hard by the spread of coronavirus. Most work under verbal contracts without signing agreements and are unable to receive compensation when jobs are canceled. Some even become "gig-workers" in jobs such as food delivery despite the chance of getting infected. How can we protect freelancers' livelihoods during the pandemic?