China To Stop Mandatory Hepatitis B Tests: State Media

From AFP:

China will stop mandatory hepatitis B tests for employees joining new companies and students enrolling in schools, state media said Sunday, after a court ruled the tests were illegal discrimination.

Deng Haihua, deputy director of the health ministry’s general office, said the government would soon issue instructions to stop the practice, which is currently a requirement, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

“A hepatitis B disease carrier does no harm to others’ health and the new practice will not increase the disease transmission,” Deng was quoted as telling a news conference on Saturday.

A design company was ordered in May last year to pay a job applicant around 20,000 yuan (2,950 dollars) after it withdrew an offer because he had hepatitis B, according to the Hong Kong-based China Labour Bulletin’s website.