New hep B anti-discriminatory measures
1 June 2007
The Ministries of Health and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security issued guidelines targeting workplace discrimination against 120 million hepatitis B carriers, the South China Morning Post reported. The guidelines subject medical facilities to confidentiality clauses and ban employers from imposing compulsory
hepatitis B tests on job applicants, unless required by regulations. But the guidelines are not legislation or regulations and more needs to be done, Beijing-based lawyer Li Fangping said. At least 22 hepatitis B-positive workers were fired in November by Taijinbao Photoelectrics, an outsourcing supplier for Hewlett Packard in Suzhou. Three of the workers have filed a suit in a Jiangsu court demanding US$65,394 in
compensation for workplace discrimination and unfair dismissal.