EY India Pune office operated without labour welfare permit following employee's death: Reports

New Delhi: The Ernst & Young (EY) office in Pune has been operating since 2007 without a state permit regulating work hours, according to sources. This revelation follows the tragic death of employee Anna Sebastian Perayil, who allegedly suffered from overwork. After Perayil's death, the Labour Commissionerate conducted an inspection of the EY office in Yerwada on Monday. The inspection uncovered significant discrepancies related to the Shop Act.

While the office has been active for years, it does not possess a Shop Act license, which is essential under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act. This law governs working conditions, including employee rights, hours, wages, and safety protocols. Although the company reportedly applied for the license online in February of this year, it has yet to be obtained.

Legal requirements for work conditions

The Labour Department is now looking into claims of worker exploitation at the EY office. The law stipulates that if employees need to work beyond eight hours, they must secure approval from a company manager. Additionally, there is a recommendation for implementing a centralized logout system for laptops, which would automatically log employees out after eight hours of work. This measure aims to ensure that work hours are monitored and regulated appropriately.

Tragic circumstances surrounding Perayil's death

Anna Sebastian Perayil, aged 26, began her role as an audit executive at EY India on March 18 of this year and worked until July 19. She tragically passed away from a heart attack on July 21. Following her death, her mother reached out to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, alleging that excessive workloads and long hours severely affected her daughter’s health. However, the firm has denied these claims.

As the investigation continues, the focus remains on ensuring that all workplaces adhere to the necessary legal and ethical standards to protect employees.