Asbestos-victims will receive compensation, according to Japan’s draft bill released Thursday

A draft of a law designed to compensate victims of asbestos-related illnesses was released by Japan's government Thursday amid national concerns following the recent disclosure of hundreds of deaths from the cancer-causing material.

The proposed bill would provide compensation to former employees of asbestos plants, family members of deceased victims, and those residing near factories who were affected, the Health Ministry said in a statement. Asbestos-related health problems often occur decades after a victim was exposed to the substance, and many former employees are ineligible for compensation under current laws, according to the AP Recent government surveys put the number of people who died from asbestos-related cancers at more than 500. Japan has lagged behind other industrialized nations in banning the material, only prohibiting use of its most common forms last year.

The proposed law will be submitted to parliament next y AM