Danwei just reported on Huawei, a Chinese company, where for some reason employees have been dying at an alarming rate. Of course, even one death is more than enough cause for alarm, but as of yesterday the total is said to stand at 37.

You may be thinking Huawei is some coal mining outfit where in China, danger and safety regulations unfortunately come with the territory. But no.

Huawei is an IT company.

Word on the Chinese Nets says that the company has a very stressful and exceedingly competitive environment:

Huawei is known to have a tradition known as "Mattress Culture". Almost every developer has his own bedroll which he stores in his cabinet, or under his work desk so he can have a noon rest. If he stays at night to punch overtime, very often he will not return to his dorm but just stay and sleep until the next day on his bedroll. Translated

That stressful environment may or may not have been the cause of this latest suicide. Huawei officials, while allowing for the possibility that there might be a correlation, assert that there is nothing to indicate that it directly caused the death.

Though if past reports are any indication, there might certainly be more than enough grounds for concern. Back in July of 2007, Huawei employee Zhangrui hanged himself, and going back even further to 2006, an over-fatigued new hire named Hu collapsed and died as well.

Now, whether this 37 number is accurate or not, I can't speculate. But that's the figure making the rounds on the Chinese Internet.

I'm sure Global Voices will find more on this story as well.

UPDATE: Global Voices did indeed find more. Cheers John.

I have a feeling we're in for a long discussion on the topic of China's labor laws. But also, I hope no one overlooks the other side of the coin, that of how much Chinese employees often push and compete with each other.

I think even if a company does not technically break labor laws by formally requiring employees to work longer/harder hours, allowing an unsafe level of competition in the workplace might just be equally irresponsible.

 

Wyndham
Level:
Ireland

slockums
Level:

kcyjason
Level:

joelchau
Level:

mohammedyawer
Level:

matthewtan28
Level: