E&Y does not have Shop Act Licence since 2007, Pune labour commissioner’s office finds in probe into employee’s death

The Pune labour commissioner’s inspection of Ernst and Young’s office in the city has revealed that the auditing giant has been operating in the state without the mandatory Shop Act Licence since 2007. A notice has now been issued to the firm, which has been embroiled in a controversy after one of its employees, Anna Sebastian Perayil, died earlier this year due to alleged workplace stress.

Shailendra Pol, Additional Labour Commissioner, Pune, confirmed that his office had inspected Ernst and Young’s office on Monday and that the company has been given seven days to reply to the notice.

“A Shop Act Licence is necessary for every establishment that employs over 10 people and is not a manufacturing unit. It dictates the working conditions and the measures the establishment has to take for the welfare of its employees. It is surprising that an auditing firm did not renew its licence,” an official from the labour commissionerate said.