Victim Unable to Work Due to PTSD, Company Responds with Dismissal
Jinnan District People's Court in Tianjin Recognizes Case as Work-Related Injury
In China, a woman who was sexually assaulted by her workplace superior during a business trip and subsequently fired has been recognized by authorities as a victim of an industrial accident. This marks the first time that workplace sexual assault has been acknowledged as an industrial accident in China.
A woman in China who was sexually assaulted by her workplace superior and then fired has been recognized for an industrial accident. Zhonghua Net
On September 25 (local time), the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Choi Lili, a 41-year-old victim, was recognized for an industrial accident in a labor dispute case related to sexual assault, which was heard at the Jinnan District People's Court in Tianjin, China.
Choi, who worked as a sales manager at an auto parts manufacturer in Tianjin with an annual salary exceeding 1 million yuan (approximately 197 million won), went on a business trip to Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, in September 2023 with her workplace superior, Wang. During the trip, she was sexually assaulted by Wang.
In April 2024, Wang was sentenced to four years in prison on rape charges. However, in the same month, Choi was dismissed from her company for alleged unauthorized absences without just cause.
Local judicial authorities determined that Choi suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the sexual assault. In December last year, the Jinnan District Human Resources and Social Security Bureau recognized her health issues as a work-related injury. However, the company objected to the industrial accident decision and filed an administrative lawsuit against the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau.
The Jinnan District Labor Arbitration Committee ruled that Choi's former employer must pay her 1.13 million yuan (approximately 223 million won) in compensation, but the company did not appeal the decision.
So far, Choi has only received 20,000 yuan (approximately 3.95 million won) and is continuing her legal battle against the company, seeking to increase the compensation amount to 2 million yuan (approximately 395 million won).
On the day of the trial, Choi wore the same clothes she had on at the time of the assault. In an interview with the media, she said, "Last time, I wore them in humiliation, but this time, I wore them for justice."
She is currently undergoing treatment for PTSD. Choi stated, "Since the incident, I have had frequent nightmares and have barely slept. I have relied on medication and coffee to get by. My life has completely collapsed." However, she advised other women who have experienced similar situations not to blame themselves.
Yao Chen, a well-known Chinese actress and feminist activist, expressed her support for Choi on social media, stating, "Choi is one of the very few victims who have come forward to share their stories directly with the media," and added, "Despite facing many hardships, she is a brave woman who has fought for herself with faith and wisdom."
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