Pune (Maharashtra) [India], September 25 : The Pune Labour commissioner's team conducted an inspection of the Ernst & Young (EY) office in Pune, one of whose employees died allegedly due to overwork.
In response to allegations of exploitative work environment, senior officials from the Maharashtra Labour Department conducted a physical inspection at EY's Pune office on Tuesday. The inspection aimed to gather information related to the late EY employee, Anna Sebastian, who died due to alleged work pressure and backbreaking workload.
Shailendra Pol, Additional Labour Commissioner, Pune and his team checked several documents related to Anna at the office. They requested EY to submit the same documents to the department within seven days. The documents include information on working rules, welfare policies, and extra working hour policies etc.
"We have checked the working conditions and current situations at the office. We sought information about the working rules, welfare policy of the company, and policies for extra working hours," Pol stated.
"We have also reviewed the appointment letter of the deceased and the rules and regulations mentioned in it. Once we receive all the requested information, we will submit a report to the Central government, after which they will take further action," he added.
The senior official of the labour department also claimed the Pune has operated since 2007 without Shop act license but EY has recently applied for the same.
"During our inspection on Monday we have found that the company did not have a license under Shop & Establishment Act Licence since its incorporation in 2007. It is an online process to obtain the shop act license. We have also got the information that they recently applied for it. But we will be sending a show cause notice to the EY Pune office. After the reply further action will be taken," Shailendra Pol, Additional Labour Commissioner Pune said.
This inspection by the labour department comes after Anna's mother alleged that her daughter's death was caused by the excessive workload and pressure at EY. The Union Labour Ministry has taken up the complaint, and a thorough investigation is underway.