Chinese premier says discrimination against job applicants who have had Covid will be punished
- Li Keqiang calls for equal rights for all during cabinet meeting, and says the government must do everything possible to stabilise employment
- It comes after reports alleging that some employers were ruling out workers who had been previously infected with the virus
Speaking at a regular meeting of China’s cabinet, the State Council, on Wednesday, Li called for equal employment rights for all and said discriminating against people who have had the coronavirus was prohibited and that anyone who did so would be punished.
He said pressure on the labour market remained significant. “The government must continue to put employment front and centre, and do everything possible to stabilise [the situation] and increase jobs,” Li was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.
While much of the world is living with the virus, China has maintained a strict zero-Covid policy, trying to stamp out any cases with tough controls and mass testing when outbreaks occur – at the cost of the economy.
Widespread coronavirus restrictions and lockdowns in big Chinese cities have had a major impact on the country’s economic activity in recent months, especially the service industry, leaving many people out of work or with not enough employment.
China’s surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas was 5.9 per cent in May, up from 5.1 per cent in December, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Li’s remarks come after media reports and online posts emerged this month alleging that some employers were ruling out job applicants who had been infected with the virus.
