Overworking Death Raises Questions About Labor Rights in China
A 39-year-old worker in Shandong, China died after working 41 hours of overtime in 8 days at a labor dispatch company. The incident highlights ongoing issues with labor rights protection and workplace safety in China’s evolving employment landscape.
The recent death of a 39-year-old worker in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China has sparked widespread discussion about labor rights and workplace safety. The worker, Mr. Xing Juanxia, was employed through a labor dispatch company at Guanjie Technology (Qingdao) Co., Ltd., where he worked stacking cardboard boxes on the production line.
During his brief employment from October 6-15, 2024, Xing accumulated 41 hours of overtime in just 8 days. On October 16, he felt unwell during his shift and requested leave to rest in his dormitory. After returning to his room around 11:10 AM, he was found unconscious in the bathroom at 2:30 PM. Despite emergency medical response, he was pronounced dead at 4:51 PM, with the preliminary diagnosis being sudden cardiac death.
This incident highlights several critical issues in China’s labor system:
First, the labor dispatch arrangement creates a complex triangle of relationships between workers, dispatch companies, and employers. This structure often leads to unclear responsibilities and compromised worker protections. When incidents occur, both the hiring company and dispatch agency typically attempt to deflect responsibility.
Second, the overtime hours clearly violated China’s labor laws, which stipulate that overtime should not exceed 36 hours per month. The intensive work schedule - particularly over weekends - placed excessive physical demands on workers, especially concerning for middle-aged employees like Xing.
Third, the incident exposes gaps in workplace safety measures. When Xing felt unwell, the company did not arrange for anyone to accompany him or ensure his wellbeing. The lack of proper monitoring and support systems for workers in distress proved fatal.
The tragedy also reflects broader challenges facing China’s workforce:
- Growing pressure on middle-aged workers to maintain intensive work schedules despite health risks
- Inadequate enforcement of labor protection laws
- The vulnerable position of dispatch workers who often lack full benefits and job security
- The human cost of prioritizing productivity over worker wellbeing
As China’s economy evolves, there is an urgent need to strengthen labor rights protection and workplace safety standards. This requires not only better enforcement of existing regulations but also new frameworks to protect workers in emerging employment arrangements.