Union labour ministry probes death of young CA on allegations of work-related stress | Nation

PTC Web Desk: India's Labour Ministry has launched an investigation into the death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil, a chartered accountant at Ernst and Young (EY) India, Pune. Earlier, the public had expressed outrage over allegations that work-related stress led to her untimely death. Anna, who had recently joined EY India's Pune office, died in July 2024, just four months after starting work.

Minister of State for Labour Shobha Karandlaje expressed her deep sadness over Anna's death and said a thorough investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway. In a post on X, she reiterated the ministry's commitment to justice: “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 and @LabourMinistry has officially recorded the complaint. @mansukhmandviya.”

The minister's reaction came after BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed concern, calling Anna's death “disturbing on many levels” and demanding an investigation into the family's claims that the company culture was pushing employees to overwork.

Her mother's heartbreaking letter

In a letter to the Chairman of EY India, Anna's mother Anita Augustine expressed her grief and frustration. In the heartfelt letter, she described her daughter's tragic journey from an ambitious, high-achieving student to a victim of unbearable work pressure. “Anna was thrilled to be working in such a prestigious firm, but just four months later our world collapsed when she passed away. She was only 26,” Anita wrote.

Anita recounted how Anna forced herself to go to work and meet deadlines despite her discomfort. During a family visit for Anna's chartered accountancy exam in Pune in early July, they took her to the hospital because of chest pains. Although her tests showed no serious problems, doctors advised her to rest. Yet Anna felt compelled to continue working, even on the day of her final exam.

“It was my daughter's dream to take us to her graduation ceremony with her hard-earned money. Even during those days, she couldn't relax due to the pressure of work,” her mother wrote. Anita recalled that Anna worked late into the night and often collapsed from exhaustion, only to be asked for further reports the next day. Her attempts to voice her concerns were met with dismissive replies, with her assistant manager telling her, “You can work nights, we all do it.”

Although her family advised her to stop, Anna wanted to continue learning and gaining experience. Unfortunately, the increasing stress was too much and she died on July 20, 2024.

The family expressed their deep disappointment that no EY representative attended Anna's funeral, which added to their grief. “Anna deserves better, and so do all employees who work under such conditions,” her mother wrote, hoping that her daughter's death would bring about meaningful change.

EY’s response

Ernst & Young India released a statement expressing their deep sadness over Anna's death and condoling with the grieving family. “We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian's tragic and untimely passing. While nothing can make up for the family's loss, we have provided and will continue to provide every possible support during this difficult time,” the statement said.

The company assured that it takes the family's concerns seriously and stressed the importance of employee welfare. “We place the highest priority on the wellbeing of all employees and will continue to look for ways to improve our workplace for our 100,000 employees at EY member firms in India,” the company added.

– With contributions from agencies