If a business as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is carried out based on multiple levels of contracts for work, the main contractor is deemed to be the employer with respect to compensation for injury or illness.

In a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, if the main contractor has by written contract had a subcontractor assume responsibility for the compensation, the subcontractor also constitutes an employer; provided, however, that the main contractor must not have two or more subcontractors assume responsibility for compensation with respect to the same business.

In a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, if the main contractor has received a request for compensation, it may request that a demand for compensation first be made to the subcontractor that has assumed responsibility for compensation; provided, however, that this does not apply if the subcontractor has become subject to an order commencing bankruptcy procedures or has disappeared.