[JURIST] The Japanese government Thursday proposed providing relief for asbestos victims in a plan that will have companies involved in asbestos-related activities picking up most of the cost. The bill mandates compensation for workers handling asbestos [JURIST news archive], their families and residents near businesses who have suffered from asbestos-induced diseases but are not covered by the workers' accident compensation program. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi [official website] said that the government is preparing to submit the proposal during the Diet session to begin in January 2006. Nearly 2,000 people die in Japan each year from mesothelioma or asbestos-induced lung cancer, but only 10 to 20 percent of them are believed to be receiving compensation under the current program according to government officials. In the United States, the US Senate is expected to take up legislation [PDF text] next month that would establish a $140 billion asbestos compensation fund [JURIST report]. Kyodo News has more.