Beijing: A 30-year-old Chinese man died of organ failure after working 104 days straight with only one day off. A court later ruled that his employer bears 20% responsibility for his death and ordered him to compensate his family. The man, identified as A’bao, was a painter who developed a lung infection that led to his death in June 2023, according to a Chinese newspaper.
A’bao worked every day from February to May, with only one day off, April 6. After a brief sick leave on May 25, his health rapidly deteriorated and he was hospitalized on May 28.
He died on June 1 from pneumococcal infection and respiratory failure.
Following her death, A’bao’s family sued her employer for “gross negligence.” Although social security officials initially did not consider her death to be a work-related injury due to the timing of the incident, the family argued that her extreme working conditions played a role in her death.
The company said A’bao’s work schedule was reasonable and any extra work was “voluntary.” It also said her health problems were due to pre-existing conditions and her delay in getting medical help.
However, the Zhoushan Intermediate People’s Court found the company to be 20 percent at fault for A’bao’s death. The court ruled that the 104-day work period violated China’s Labor Law, which limits daily work to eight hours and weekly work to 44 hours.
The court awarded A’bao’s family 400,000 yuan (about Rs 4,746,000) in compensation and 10,000 yuan (about Rs 1,170,000) for emotional distress. The company’s appeal was unsuccessful and the ruling was upheld in August.
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