Chinese Judicial Authorities Issue Strong Warning Against Employment Discrimination of COVID-19 Infected Individuals

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Chinese judicial authorities have issued a strong warning message regarding employment discrimination against individuals with a history of COVID-19 infection.

According to China News Network on the 24th, Zhou Chang, President of the Supreme People's Court, mentioned the issue of employment discrimination against those with a history of COVID-19 infection at an expanded court meeting on the 22nd. He emphasized, "According to the law, cases related to people's livelihood should be properly adjudicated, and the protection of the rights and interests of worker groups such as university graduates and migrant workers should be strengthened," adding, "Employment discrimination against people who have recovered after being confirmed positive for COVID-19 must be firmly prohibited."

Recently, employment discrimination against people who have been infected with COVID-19 has emerged as a social issue in China. Many companies avoid hiring individuals with a history of infection on the grounds that they might test positive in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Under China's strict zero-COVID policy, if an employee tests positive for COVID-19, the company must temporarily close its operations.

Although Premier Li Keqiang warned that employment discrimination against individuals with a history of COVID-19 infection would be dealt with severely, discrimination in the job market is still reported to persist. According to the National Health Commission of China (NHC), as of the 22nd, the cumulative number of people who were infected with COVID-19 on the Chinese mainland, hospitalized, and then discharged is approximately 221,500.