New initiatives rise after passing of EY India's employee in June
Authorities in India are carrying out various measures, including the introduction of new legislation, in a bid to protect employee wellbeing after the death of a worker at global consultancy Ernst & Young (EY) in July, according to reports.
Labour officials at Bengaluru tipped that their department has carried out more frequent inspections to ensure that firms are complying with overtime rules and maintenance of time logs, Reuters reported.
According to the report, the measures come in the wake of "overwork complaints" from employees.
Meanwhile, the government of Maharashtra is also reportedly eyeing legislation or guidelines that aim to regulate hiring and layoff practices and covers all corporate workers.
The Reuters report, which cited two anonymous state officials, noted that a proposal by labour authorities would be implemented after clearance from the state cabinet.
Maharashtra is regarded as one of India's biggest commercial and industrial centres, with its capital being Mumbai, the country's financial hub. Bengaluru, a city in Karnataka state, is known as the "Silicon Valley of India" because it is the country's leading software exporter and major semiconductor hub.
The measures from their governments come in the wake of EY employee Anna Sebastian Perayil's passing in June, who was an employee of the global consultancy for four months before her death.
Perayil passed away due to a stroke, and her parents blamed her death on overwork, according to Reuters.
The late employee's mother penned a letter to the chairman of EY India, Rajiv Memani, who confirmed that he received it in a leaked email to employees in September.
"I received an anguished e-mail from Anna's mother and have taken note of her message with utmost seriousness and humility," Memani said in the email.
The chairman said they were in regular contact with the late employee's family and have provided them "all the assistance."
"Though no words can comfort a grieving family, I have personally expressed my condolences and have shared my deepest regret for their irreparable loss," he said.
According to the chairman, EY has several well-being programmes and open communication channels where employees can voice their concerns anonymously, with more avenues to come so employees can share transparent and honest feedback.
"I would like to reaffirm to all of you that our firm places the highest importance on the health and well-being of our people, and we will recommit ourselves to providing a supportive, healthy, and balanced work environment to you all," Memani said.
