CA Anna Sebastian Perayil: Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje Assures Thorough Investigation into Exploitative Work Environment
Moneylife Digital Team 19 September 2024
Taking cogniSance of the uproar on social media about the death of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a young chartered accountant (CA), due to work pressure in the Pune office of Ernst & Young (EY), Shobha Karandlaje, Union minister of state for labour and employment, assured a thorough investigation ensuring justice.
 
In a post on X, Ms Karandlaje says, "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 the labour ministry has officially taken up the complaint."
 
 
After feeling uneasy and complaining of exhaustion, Ms Perayil was admitted to a hospital in Pune. However, while undergoing treatment, on 20 July 2024, she died.
 
In a letter to Rajiv Memani, chairman of EY India, her grieving mother, Anita Augustine, alleged relentless work pressure as the cause of her death. Further, the mother alleged that no one from EY attended the funeral of her daughter.
 
The letter went viral on social media. According to Ms Augustine, Anna's exhaustion was evident as she would often collapse on her bed after returning to her paying guest (PG) accommodation, sometimes without even changing her clothes, only to be bombarded with further requests for reports. "Anna would never have blamed her managers. She was too kind for that," she says. "But I cannot remain silent. Burdening newcomers with such backbreaking work, making them work day and night, even on Sundays, has no justification whatsoever."
 
"This is a systemic issue that goes beyond individual managers or teams. The relentless demands and pressure to meet unrealistic expectations are not sustainable, and they cost us the life of a young woman with so much potential," the grieving mother says.
 
Responding to the aggrieved mother's letter, Mr Memani told Indian Express that "Anna was a part of the Audit team at SR Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global, in Pune for a brief period of four months, joining the firm on 18 March 2024. That her promising career was cut short in this tragic manner is an irreparable loss for all of us."
 
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Comments
david.rasquinha
3 months ago
EY is still making excuses for their criminal behaviour.
cady1953
3 months ago
EY is a heartless company. The Management must be ousted
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