New Delhi- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the reported death of a chartered accountant girl from Kerala that allegedly died due to excessive workload.

The 26-year-old girl was found to have died from Pune due to long hours of work at Ernst & Young, a company in which she had joined 4 months back. The deceased's mother has alleged that long hours of work had taken a heavy toll on her daughter's physical, emotional, and mental health. This charge has been denied by the company.

The Commission has expressed serious concern over the reported death of the young employee and has asked the Ministry of Labour and Employment to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. The Commission has further asked the Ministry to review the work culture, employment policies, and regulations of the company in order to ensure alignment with global human rights standards.

The Commission has also taken notice of the recent surge in press reports regarding alleged unfair practices at workplaces in India. In light of these reports, the Commission has emphasized the need for all stakeholders to take steps to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.

It is the prime duty of every employer to provide a safe, secure, and positive environment to its employees. The Commission has urged businesses to take accountability for human rights issues and regularly update and revise their work and employment policies and regulations to ensure alignment with global human rights standards. The Commission has also requested the Ministry of Labour and Employment to take necessary steps to implement the recommendations of the Commission and to ensure the protection of human rights and a healthy work environment in businesses and industries in India.