NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday spoke to the parents of Anna Sebastian, a 26-year-old Earnest and Young employee who died from ‘work-related stress,’ assuring them he would personally fight for this cause in his capacity as the Leader of the opposition.
In a video call arranged by Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty during his visit to their home in Kochi, Gandhi offered his sympathies to the family and lauded their courage to speak up about the issue in the larger interest of improving working conditions for the millions of professionals
“Leader of Opposition Mr.Rahul Gandhi spoke to the parents of Ms. Anna Sebastian today via a video call arranged by the Chairman of All India Professionals’ Congress Praveen Chakravarty during his visit to their home in Kochi,” a statement released by Congress party read.
“Mr. Gandhi offered his sympathies at Anna’s sudden and tragic demise. Further he lauded the family’s courage and selflessness to speak up at this extremely difficult moment about this issue in the larger interest of improving working conditions for the millions of professionals in India. Mr. Gandhi assured them that he will personally fight for this cause in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition,” it added.
Read Also: EY employee’s death: Anna Sebastian’s father appeals to the company
Gandhi also instructed the All India Professional Congress chairman to create an awareness movement in memory of deceased woman for all working professionals in the country. According to the party, AIPC will announce a helpline to collect information from corporate professionals about issues related to work stress and toxic work culture.
“He instructed the AIPC Chairman to create an awareness movement in Anna’s memory for all working professionals in India. Following Mr. Gandhi’s instructions, AIPC will announce a helpline soon to collect information from corporate professionals about issues related to work stress and toxic work culture,” the statement read.
“Post which, AIPC will seek to come up with draft guidelines for better working conditions for professionals in the corporate sector,” it added.
This comes a day after, Sibi Joseph, father of Anna Sebastian Perayil, said that his daughter was “hardly getting any sleep and was unable to eat proper food”, during an interview with news agency IANS.
Also read:
Not taking EY to court, says dead CA’s father
26-year-old employee’s mother writes letter to EY Chairman: Anna’s death should serve as a wake up call for EY
He further said that despite their advice to resign from her job, Anna insisted on continuing to work at the “reputed firm”. Joseph mentioned that his daughter, who was involved in an audit of Bajaj Auto, would often work past midnight and return to her paying guest accommodation around 1.30 am. She frequently complained about her work situation, and her parents even took her to a cardiologist in July.
The family has decided not to pursue legal action against the company.
Meanwhile, Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya said an investigation is underway. “Based on the findings of the probe, necessary action will be taken,” Mandaviya told reporters.
His deputy Shobha Karandlaje said on microblogging platform X that a thorough probe into the allegations “of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway.” “We are committed to ensuring justice & the labour ministry has officially taken up the complaint,” she said while responding to a post by former minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who had reposted TOI’s post on Anna’s mother Anita Augustine’s letter to EY chairman Rajiv Memani that alleged workplace stress.
In a video call arranged by Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty during his visit to their home in Kochi, Gandhi offered his sympathies to the family and lauded their courage to speak up about the issue in the larger interest of improving working conditions for the millions of professionals
“Leader of Opposition Mr.Rahul Gandhi spoke to the parents of Ms. Anna Sebastian today via a video call arranged by the Chairman of All India Professionals’ Congress Praveen Chakravarty during his visit to their home in Kochi,” a statement released by Congress party read.
“Mr. Gandhi offered his sympathies at Anna’s sudden and tragic demise. Further he lauded the family’s courage and selflessness to speak up at this extremely difficult moment about this issue in the larger interest of improving working conditions for the millions of professionals in India. Mr. Gandhi assured them that he will personally fight for this cause in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition,” it added.
Read Also: EY employee’s death: Anna Sebastian’s father appeals to the company
Gandhi also instructed the All India Professional Congress chairman to create an awareness movement in memory of deceased woman for all working professionals in the country. According to the party, AIPC will announce a helpline to collect information from corporate professionals about issues related to work stress and toxic work culture.
“He instructed the AIPC Chairman to create an awareness movement in Anna’s memory for all working professionals in India. Following Mr. Gandhi’s instructions, AIPC will announce a helpline soon to collect information from corporate professionals about issues related to work stress and toxic work culture,” the statement read.
“Post which, AIPC will seek to come up with draft guidelines for better working conditions for professionals in the corporate sector,” it added.
This comes a day after, Sibi Joseph, father of Anna Sebastian Perayil, said that his daughter was “hardly getting any sleep and was unable to eat proper food”, during an interview with news agency IANS.
Also read:
Not taking EY to court, says dead CA’s father
26-year-old employee’s mother writes letter to EY Chairman: Anna’s death should serve as a wake up call for EY
He further said that despite their advice to resign from her job, Anna insisted on continuing to work at the “reputed firm”. Joseph mentioned that his daughter, who was involved in an audit of Bajaj Auto, would often work past midnight and return to her paying guest accommodation around 1.30 am. She frequently complained about her work situation, and her parents even took her to a cardiologist in July.
The family has decided not to pursue legal action against the company.
Meanwhile, Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya said an investigation is underway. “Based on the findings of the probe, necessary action will be taken,” Mandaviya told reporters.
His deputy Shobha Karandlaje said on microblogging platform X that a thorough probe into the allegations “of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway.” “We are committed to ensuring justice & the labour ministry has officially taken up the complaint,” she said while responding to a post by former minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who had reposted TOI’s post on Anna’s mother Anita Augustine’s letter to EY chairman Rajiv Memani that alleged workplace stress.