BEIJING (SCMP): The Chinese work culture of overworking is under scrutiny again after a 30-year-old man in eastern China died from organ failure following 104 consecutive workdays with only one rest day.
A court in Zhejiang province ruled that the company was 20 per cent responsible for the man’s death, who was identified as A’bao, reported Guangzhou Daily.
The court found that A’bao died from multiple organ failure due to a pneumococcal infection, often linked to a weakened immune system.
The incident has ignited widespread outrage in China and sparked a conversation about how workers are treated in the country.
In February last year, A’bao signed a contract to work as a painter for a company whose name was not disclosed by the court. The contract was meant to last until January this year. He was subsequently assigned to a project in Zhoushan in Zhejiang province in eastern China.
A’bao worked every day for 104 days from February to May last year after signing the contract, with only one rest day on April 6. On May 25, he took a sick day off because he felt unwell and spent that day resting at his dormitory.
On May 28, A’bao’s condition rapidly deteriorated. He was rushed to hospital by his colleagues, where he was diagnosed with a lung infection and respiratory failure. He died on June 1.
During the initial investigation into his death, social security officials said that, because more than 48 hours had passed between A’bao’s illness and his death, it could not be classified as a work-related injury.
His family then filed a lawsuit for compensation, alleging employer negligence.
In response, the company argued that A’bao’s workload was manageable and that any overtime was voluntary. They further contended that his death resulted from pre-existing health issues and a lack of timely medical intervention, which worsened his condition.
The court determined that A’bao’s capacity to work for 104 consecutive days was a clear violation of Chinese Labour Law, which mandates a maximum of 8 working hours per day and an average of 44 hours per week.
It ruled that the company’s breach of labour regulations played a significant role in A’bao’s deteriorating immune system and eventual death, holding the company 20 per cent liable for the tragedy.
The court awarded the family a total of 400,000 yuan (US$56,000) in compensation, including 10,000 yuan for emotional distress caused by the death.
The company appealed the ruling, but the Zhoushan Intermediate People’s Court upheld the original verdict in August.
The case provoked widespread discussions and outrage on Chinese social media.
“Painting is a job that is inherently harmful to our health. At 30, he lost his life, and his family was shattered. The court only awarded 400,000 yuan. What’s even more outrageous is that the company appealed the initial judgment, showing no sympathy, basic humanity, or self-reflection,” someone wrote online.
Another person echoed that point: “It’s heartbreaking to see this. Working like this is truly exchanging one’s life for money.”
A third person wrote: “The cost of breaking the law for companies is too low, and it seems the labour law only exists to restrain the workers.”
A’bao’s death is not an isolated incident, as tragic deaths associated with harsh working conditions in China are relatively common.
In August 2019, an employee known by the alias Zhu Bin died suddenly while commuting home after work. Zhu was later discovered to have worked the entire month of July without rest and clocked 130 hours of overtime.
The court ruled that Zhu’s employer was 30 per cent responsible for Zhu’s death and ordered 360,000 yuan (US$50,000) in compensation. - South China Morning Post
