In the event that an employer covered by industrial accident compensation insurance (for businesses subject to the provisions of Article 8 of the Act on the Collection, etc. of Insurance Premiums of Labor Insurance (Act No. 84 of 1969), meaning businesses in cases where the provisions thereof do not apply; hereinafter the same applies in this Article) (limited to employers who have been conducting such business for not less than the period specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) receives a ruling on the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise falls under any of the cases specified by Cabinet Order, if there are any unpaid wages (meaning wages still unpaid after the payment date; hereinafter the same applies in this Article and the following Article) of workers engaged in such business who retired within the period specified by Cabinet Order, the government is to pay debts pertaining to the unpaid wages within the scope specified by Cabinet Order on behalf of the employer at the request of the workers (for those specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, limited to those who have received confirmation from the director of a labor standards office with regard to matters such as the amount of unpaid wages as provided for by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) of Article 474 of the Civil Code (Act No. 89 of 1896).