Will fight for better working conditions: Rahul to the parents of an EY employee

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Parliament Rahul Gandhi on Saturday spoke to the parents of Anna Sebastian Perayil, who died allegedly due to extreme work pressure at Ernst & Young, and assured them that he would fight for improving working conditions for millions of professionals in India.

PHOTO: Anna Sebastian Perayil. Photo: Anna Sebastian Perayil on LinkedIn

Gandhi spoke to Anna Sebastian's parents through a video call arranged by All India Professionals' Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty, who visited their home in Kochi.

“I spoke to the heartbroken parents of Anna Sebastian, a bright and ambitious young professional whose life was tragically cut short by toxic and unforgiving working conditions,” Gandhi said in a post on X.

In the face of unimaginable grief, Anna's mother showed remarkable courage and selflessness, turning her personal loss into a powerful plea for safer and fairer workplaces for all, he said.

“I have pledged my personal commitment to Anna's family, as well as the full support of the Congress Party, to ensure that this tragedy becomes a catalyst for change,” Gandhi said.

He also shared the video of his call with the parents.

In the video, Anna's mother can be seen telling Gandhi that her daughter would be dead tired after work and would have no time for her personal life.

“Only in India are children subjected to such torture. Outside India, they would not force their employees to do such work. They say we got freedom in 1947, but our children still work like slaves. Why is this happening in our country?” she asked.

The opposition leader assured parents that they would raise the issue in Parliament.

He expressed his condolences over Anna's sudden and tragic death and praised the family's courage and selflessness in speaking out on the issue at this extremely difficult moment in the interest of improving working conditions for the millions of professionals in India, the AIPC said in a statement.

Gandhi assured them that he would fight for this cause in his capacity as leader of the opposition, it was said.

He also directed the AIPC Chairman to launch an awareness campaign in memory of Anna among all working people in India.

“Following Gandhi's instructions, AIPC will soon set up a helpline to collect information from corporate professionals on issues such as work stress and toxic work culture. AIPC will then try to prepare draft guidelines for better working conditions for professionals in the corporate sector,” the statement said.

In a post on X last night, senior Congressman and former AIPC chairman Shashi Tharoor said he had a deeply emotional and heartbreaking conversation with Sibi Joseph, the father of Anna Sebastian, who died of cardiac arrest after four months of extremely stressful, 14-hour, seven-day weeks at Ernst & Young.

“He suggested, and I agreed, that I raise the issue of passing in Parliament a fixed calendar for all workplaces, whether in the private or public sector, not exceeding eight hours a day, five days a week. Inhumanity in the workplace must be abolished by law, with strict penalties and fines for violators. Human rights do not stop at the workplace!” Tharoor said.

“We will raise this matter at the first opportunity during the next session of Parliament,” Tharoor said.

Anna was a 26-year-old auditor who allegedly died due to extreme work pressure at the company.

EY issued a statement on Wednesday saying: “We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian's tragic and untimely death in July 2024.” EY has been in contact with the family since the death and is helping them, but only now has her family decided to write to the company and complain about the “excessive workload,” it said.

EY has announced that it will continue to improve workplaces and ensure healthy workplaces in its offices across the country.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment is investigating an alleged “unsafe and exploitative working environment” days after the tragic death of Anna Sebastian Perayil, who worked at SR Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global.