Ernst & Young employee death: Centre investigating claims of exploitative work environment

This came in response to allegations by a parent of an employee of the accounting firm that their daughter had died in July due to work-related stress.

Sep 19, 2024 - 19:30

Ernst & Young employee death: Centre investigating claims of exploitative work environment

The Union government on Thursday announced that it is investigating allegations of an exploitative work environment at Ernst & Young’s India offices.

This came on the heels of allegations of unsafe and exploitative work environment levelled by Anita Augustine, the mother of Anna Sebastian Perayil, an employee of the accounting firm in Pune, who passed away in July.

In a letter to Ernst & Young India Chairman Rajiv Memani, Augustine attributed her daughter’s death to “backbreaking work” conditions at the company, reported the Business Standard.

Shobha Karandlaje, the Union minister of state for Labour and Employment, said on Thursday that an investigation into the allegations of exploitative work environment at the firm is underway. “We are committed to ensuring justice and labour ministry has officially taken up the complaint,” said in a social media post.

Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil. A thorough investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway. We are committed to ensuring justice & @LabourMinistry has officially taken up the complaint.@mansukhmandviya https://t.co/1apsOm594d— Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) September 19, 2024

Karandlaje’s statement on X was made in response to a post by BJP leader and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who shared a news article about Perayil and described her death as “disturbing on many...