Beijing: An employee in China, who worked continuously for 104 days under company pressure, died due to respiratory failure.
The incident in Zhejiang province has reignited discussions about the harsh working conditions employees face and the associated risks.
The deceased, identified as Abao, had been working as a painter for the company since February last year.
According to court documents, Abao was assigned a project in Zhoushan city this year, where he worked tirelessly. On May 25, he took a day off due to illness but was bedridden three days later.
His colleagues took him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe pneumonia and respiratory failure. Despite treatment, Abao passed away on June 1.
The court in Zhejiang province found that Abao’s death was directly caused by the harsh work schedule. The court held Abao’s employer 20% responsible for his death.
The court clarified that Abao’s continuous 104-day work period and only one day of rest was a clear violation of Chinese labor laws, which stipulate that employees can work a maximum of 8 hours per day and an average of 44 hours per week.
The court ordered the company to pay Abao’s family 400,000 yuan, including 10,000 yuan for emotional distress.
However, the company argued in court that Abao’s workload was reasonable and that any overtime was voluntary. The company also claimed that Abao’s death was due to his pre-existing medical condition and delays in treatment.
The court rejected all of the company’s arguments.
