The man, who was in his 60s, suddenly died during a rendezvous with his long-time girlfriend in a private room at the factory where he worked as a security guard.

His son applied for but was denied compensation for his father’s death under a scheme which covers employees’ deaths at work.

He appealed that decision to a court, which agreed that compensation should be awarded as his father died while taking a break from his 24-hour shift, as was his right.

The employer and social security authority were unsuccessful in an appeal.

The final ruling was made in 2017 but only became publicly known in China this month, the South China Morning Post reports.

Chongqing lawyer Chen Rui said the decisive factor in the case was the man’s long working hours and how they impacted his right to a relationship with his girlfriend.