Shanghai authorities have cut the time for notification of Covid-19 test results to two weeks from 90 days to counter discrimination against people who have contracted the potentially deadly coronavirus.
Authorities banned employers from terminating or refusing to hire people because of a history of infection with a contagious disease.
The city government specifically warned companies not to discriminate against hiring people who had previously been infected with Covid-19.
Authorities said they had received reports that some employers had groups refused to employ workers who caught the virus during the city’s two-month lockdown in March and April.
The city government also urged businesses to stabilise employment in the city, where the jobless rate hit 12.5% in the second quarter.
Potential employees will no longer have to submit to employers or recruiters the results of a Covid-19 test if it is older than 15 days.
“Experts pointed out that adjusting the time limit for test records will help to cut off the source of information that causes discrimination against people who have recovered from coronavirus,” the city government said in a statement.
Authorities would “effectively protect the privacy of patients, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of workers”, it added.
- George Russell
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