China Man Dies Of Organ Failure After Working 104 Days With Just 1 Leave; Court Asks Firm To Pay Compensation

In China, a 30-year-old man died of organ failure after working 104 consecutive days. A court ruled the company responsible, citing a violation of labour laws that mandate 8-hour workdays.

China News: The death of an overworked 30-year-old man died from organ failure has once again brought into focus the work culture of China, with a local court ruling that the company he worked for was partly responsible for his death. The man, identified as A’bao, reportedly worked as many as 104 consecutive days with just one day off. He died from multiple organ failure occurring after a pneumococcal infection, which usually happens to someone with a weak immune system, the South China Morning Post reported, quoting local media.

According to the report, the case has sparked a debate online about how workers are treated in China.   

The court in Zhejiang province found the company, the name of which it did not disclose, 20% responsible for A’bao’s death.

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What Happened To A’bao? 

A’bao had signed a contract with the company in question in February 2023 to work as a painter, and was assigned to a project in Zhoushan in eastern China's Zhejiang province, the SCMP report said.

While the contract was for a year, until January 2024, A’bao fell sick on May 25 last year. Between February and May, he had worked every day, totalling 104 days, barring one rest day on April 6, according to the report. 

A’bao took a sick leave on May 25, spending the day resting at the dormitory he lived in. After his condition deteriorated on May 28, his colleagues took him to hospital where doctors said he had a lung infection and respiratory failure. A’bao died on June 1. 

His family filed a lawsuit, alleging negligence on part of the company, and sought a compensation after initial investigation into A’bao’s death ruled that it was not a work-related injury because over 48 hours had passed between his illness and death.

While the company argued that any overtime done by its employees was voluntary, and that A’bao’s workload was manageable, the court said the fact that he worked for 104 consecutive days was a violation of China's Labour Law, which mandates 8 working hours a day and average 44 hours a week.

The company also contended that A’bao had pre-existing health issues, and that lack of timely medical intervention worsened his condition, the court said its breach of labour regulations played a role in A’bao’s deteriorating immune system, which eventually led to his death, the SCMP report said.

The family was awarded a compensation of 400,000 yuan (Rs 47.03 lakh), including 10,000 yuan (Rs 1.18 lakh) for emotional distress.

The company had moved the Zhoushan Intermediate People’s Court, challenging the ruling, but the latter upheld the original verdict.