China man dies of organ failure after working 104 days with just 1 day off; court orders compensation

The death of a 30-year-old man due to organ failure has once again highlighted the Chinese work culture of overworking. Theman, identified as A’bao, worked as many as 104 consecutive days with just one day off.

As per report by South China Morning Post, A’bao died from multiple organ failure occurring after a pneumococcal infection, which usually happens to someone with a weak immune system.

The court in Zhejiang province has ruled that the company was 20 per cent responsible for the man’s death.

The incident has sparked an online debate in China about how workers are treated in country.  

In February 2023, 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, the SCMP report said.

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, the SCMP report added.

A’bao’s condition rapidly deteriorated on May 28. He was rushed to hospital by his colleagues, where he was diagnosed with a lung infection and respiratory failure and he died on June 1.

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 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.