Chinese man works 103 days nonstop, dies from organ failure
A 30-year-old man in eastern China, identified as A'bao, died from multiple organ failure following a grueling work schedule of 104 consecutive days with only one rest day. The Zhejiang province court ruled that the company was 20% responsible for his death and ordered compensation for his family. The cause of death was determined to be multiple organ failure due to a pneumococcal infection, often associated with a weakened immune system.
Employment details and project assignment
A'bao was contracted to work as a painter for an unnamed company from February last year until January of this year. After signing the contract, A'bao worked nonstop for 104 days, from February to May of last year, with just one day off on April 6. He felt unwell on May 25, so he called in sick and spent the day sleeping at his dorm.
He died on June 1
His condition rapidly declined on May 28, after which his colleagues promptly transported him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with respiratory failure and a pulmonary infection. On June 1, he passed away, SCMP reported. Social security officials stated that A'bao's death could not be classified as a work-related injury due to the fact that more than 48 hours had passed between his illness and his passing. His family then filed a lawsuit, contending that the employer was negligent.
Court ruling on A'bao's case
The court stated that A'bao's working hours were significantly longer than the standard working hours. The Chinese labour law mandates a maximum of eight working hours per day and an average of 44 hours per week. It also noted that his employer did not provide him with necessary health checks, and held the company 20% liable for the tragedy. It awared the family compensation of 400,000 yuan ($56,000), including 10,000 yuan for mental distress caused by the death.
Company's appeal turned down
In its defense, the company argued that A'bao's workload was manageable and any overtime was voluntary. It also claimed that his death was caused by pre-existing health problems and a lack of timely medical care, which exacerbated his condition. The corporation appealed the ruling, but the Zhoushan Intermediate People's Court upheld its verdict in August.
