Union Labour Ministry to Investigate Death of Young Accountant amid Allegations of Work Stress

The Union Labour Ministry announced on Thursday that it will investigate the death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil, a chartered accountant employed with Ernst & Young India, following widespread outrage over allegations of work-related stress contributing to her untimely demise.

Minister of State for Labour Shobha Karandlaje expressed condolences in a post on X. "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,” she posted. She added that the Labour Ministry has officially taken up the complaint.

This announcement came after BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar described Anna's death as "very sad but also disturbing at many levels," urging a probe into her family’s claims regarding an exploitative work environment at Ernst & Young.

In a letter to Ernst & Young India chairman Rajiv Memani, Anna's mother, Anita Augustine, shared her grief and called for changes to a work culture that "seems to glorify overwork while neglecting the very human being behind the role." "I am writing this letter as a grieving mother who has lost her precious child, Anna Sebastian Perayil. My heart is heavy, and my soul is shattered,” she wrote.

Anna had joined Ernst & Young just four months prior to her death. Her mother recounted the last days leading up to the tragedy, detailing how Anna had been complaining of chest constriction and had visited the hospital shortly before her convocation. "She was thrilled to be part of such a prestigious company," Anita wrote, but her excitement quickly turned to despair as work pressure intensified. "On July 6th, we took her to the hospital in Pune. Her ECG was normal, but she insisted on returning to work, saying there was a lot to be done,” she added.

Anita described how Anna struggled to balance work and personal life. "It breaks my heart to tell you that even during those two days, she couldn't enjoy them because of the work pressure,” wrote Anna’s mother. Her mother alleged that Anna worked long hours, often late into the night, and was frequently contacted by her manager with urgent tasks. "When she voiced her concerns, she was met with the dismissive response, 'You can work at night, that's what we all do,” she wrote.

The family expressed deep disappointment that no representatives from Ernst & Young attended Anna's funeral, calling it "deeply hurtful." Anita wrote, "Anna deserved better, and so do all the employees who continue to work under these conditions."

In response, Ernst & Young India issued a statement expressing sorrow over Anna's death. "We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian's tragic and untimely passing... while no measure can compensate for the loss experienced by the family, we have provided all the assistance as we always do in such times of distress," the company said. The firm emphasized its commitment to employee well-being, stating, "We place the highest importance on the well-being of all employees and will continue to find ways to improve and provide a healthy workplace for our 100,000 people across EY member firms in India."​