Just as the smartphone maker, HTC, celebrated its stock price exceeding the 1,000 NT-dollar-mark earlier this week, one of its engineers was found dead after working overtime the previous day. The Council of Labor Affairs has started an investigation into this case, stressing that employers in the hi-tech industry cannot require the staff to work overtime, and HTC will face a fine if the engineer's death is found to be linked to overworking.

For the second time, smartphone maker HTC Corporation, which consistently has strong performances in the stock market, just released reports of their share values surpassing the thousand NT dollar mark.

However, the good news was soon overshadowed by reports that an engineer of the corporation died from over work and exhaustion.

Mr. Hsieh, who just celebrated his 30th birthday, failed to show up to work on the day the companies share values surpassed the thousand NT dollar mark.

Colleagues who went to go check up on him found the engineer dead in his home.

According to his colleague, the day before Mr. Hsieh passed away, he worked from the whole day until dawn the next morning.

He left his last message on Facebook at 3 AM, and even then, the message concerned his job.

Currently, the Council of Labor Affairs is conducting an investigation into the case.

The CLA last year relaxed regulation standards regarding death from overwork.

If a death is the result of brain cardiovascular diseases or other causes stemming from work, such as overtime work, the case is ruled as death from overwork and exhaustion.

As workers in the technological industry frequently work overtime, the CLA emphasizes that according to the Labor Standards Act, the electronics industry cannot be held liable.

Whether this case will be ruled as death by over work remains to be determined.

The CLA states that their original routine inspection will take place immediately.

Meanwhile, representatives of HTC Corporation expressed regret over the death and say they will provide their full assistance to the family of the deceased employee.