/Tendency/A 30-Year-Old Chinese Man Dies from Organ Failure After Working 104 Consecutive Days with Only 1 Day Off

A 30-Year-Old Chinese Man Dies from Organ Failure After Working 104 Consecutive Days with Only 1 Day Off

The culture of overwork in China is once again under scrutiny following the death of a 30-year-old man from eastern China, who succumbed to organ failure after working 104 consecutive days with only one day of rest.

Death Due to Overwork

The man, identified as A’bao, had signed a contract to work as an artist for a company whose name was not disclosed by the court. The contract was set to last until January of this year. He was assigned to work on a project in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province.

A’bao worked every day for 104 consecutive days from February to May last year after signing the contract, with only one day off on April 6. On May 25, he requested sick leave after feeling unwell and spent the day resting at his dormitory.

By May 28, A’bao’s condition deteriorated rapidly. His colleagues took him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a lung infection and respiratory failure. He passed away on June 1.

The case was not classified as a normal workplace accident. His family later filed a lawsuit, accusing the company of negligence.

In response, the company argued that A’bao’s workload was manageable and that all overtime was voluntary. They also claimed that his death was due to pre-existing health issues and the lack of timely medical intervention, which worsened his condition.

The court found that A’bao’s continuous work for 104 days was a clear violation of China’s Labor Law, which stipulates a maximum of 8 working hours per day and an average of 44 hours per week.

The court ruled that the company’s violation of labor regulations contributed significantly to A’bao’s weakened immune system, leading to his death. It concluded that the company was 20% responsible for the tragedy.

The court ordered a total compensation of 400,000 yuan (56,000 USD) to be paid to his family, including 10,000 yuan for mental anguish caused by his death.

The company appealed the ruling, but the court upheld the original decision.

Working to the Point of Exhaustion

The case has sparked widespread discussion and outrage on Chinese social media.

“Being an artist is already harmful to one’s health. At the age of 30, he lost his life, and his family was torn apart. The court only ruled for 400,000 yuan in compensation. What’s even more outrageous is that the company appealed the original verdict, showing they lack basic empathy, humanity, or self-reflection,” one person wrote online.

Another agreed: “It’s heartbreaking to see this. Working like this is truly trading life for money.”

A third commenter wrote: “The cost of violating the law for companies is too low, and it seems that labor laws only exist to restrain workers.”

A’bao’s death is not an isolated case, as tragic deaths related to harsh working conditions in China are relatively common.

In August 2019, an employee named Zhu Bin suddenly died on his way home after work. It was later discovered that Zhu had worked throughout July without any days off, logging 130 overtime hours.

The court ruled that Zhu’s employer was 30% responsible for his death and ordered compensation of 360,000 yuan (50,000 USD).

Source: SCMP

 

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