In a tragic incident that highlights the devastating effects of overwork, a 30-year-old Chinese man died from organ failure after working continuously for 104 days and resting only for one day. South China Morning PostThe man identified as Abao, who worked as a painter, contracted a pneumococcal infection which led to his death in June 2023. Notably, Abao had entered into a contract agreement with a company in February last year, committing to work on a project by January this year.
After signing the contract, Abao was assigned to a work project located in Zhoushan, a city in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang. He then began an exhausting work schedule, working every day for 104 consecutive days from February to May last year, with only one day of rest on April 6. On May 25, he finally took a sick day, feeling unwell, and spent the day resting in his dormitory. However, his condition deteriorated rapidly and by May 28, he was rushed to hospital by his colleagues. Doctors diagnosed him with a lung infection and respiratory failure. He died on June 1.
Following his death, his family filed a lawsuit against his employer, alleging gross negligence. This legal action was taken after social security officials controversially ruled that Abao’s death could not be classified as a work-related injury, citing the timing of his death as the cause. However, his family argued that long periods of excessive work and lack of rest directly contributed to Abao’s death.
Meanwhile, the company also claimed that Abao’s workload was reasonable and the extra hours worked were voluntary. Furthermore, the company blamed Abao’s pre-existing health conditions and alleged that his condition worsened due to lack of timely medical attention.
However, a Chinese court ruled in favor of the painter’s family, holding Abao’s employer 20% liable for his death. The court found that Abao died of multiple organ failure caused by a pneumococcal infection, which is often associated with a weakened immune system. The court also determined that Abao’s working 104 consecutive days was a clear violation of Chinese labor law, which clearly stipulates a maximum of 8 hours per day and an average of 44 hours per week.
The court awarded Abao’s family a total of 400,000 yuan (approximately Rs 47,46,000) in compensation, including financial compensation and a separate sum of 10,000 yuan for emotional distress. Although the company appealed, the original verdict was upheld in August.
