Disabled Facility That Rejected Employment Due to Hepatitis B Accepts Human Rights Commission Recommendation

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] A residential facility for people with disabilities that refused to hire someone because they were a carrier of the hepatitis B virus has decided to accept the recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK).

On the 19th, the NHRCK announced that the A residential facility for people with disabilities, which refused employment last month due to medical history, accepted the recommendation, stating it would implement measures to prevent recurrence and conduct anti-discrimination education. In May, the NHRCK had recommended that the A facility prepare measures to prevent the occurrence of the same or similar discriminatory acts.

According to the NHRCK, last October, complainant Mr. B applied for a position as a residential counselor at the facility but was rejected. This was because the employment health examination determined that he was a carrier of the hepatitis B virus. Although the doctor judged that it would not interfere with his work, the facility refused to hire Mr. B due to his medical history without issuing any official document.

The facility stated in response to Mr. B’s complaint that refusal was unavoidable given the nature of the facility, where people with disabilities gather. There are 50 people with severe disabilities in the facility, and the residential counselor position Mr. B applied for requires living and providing services together with vulnerable disabled individuals, posing a risk if transmission occurs.

However, the NHRCK judged that the facility’s refusal to hire constituted discrimination. The NHRCK explained, "Being a carrier of the hepatitis B virus does not transmit infection through daily life, and infectivity varies depending on activity status, but the facility refused employment without considering this. This is discrimination in employment based on medical history without reasonable grounds."

The NHRCK stated, "We will make special efforts in investigating and remedying discriminatory acts to prevent unreasonable discrimination based on medical history, including hepatitis B virus carrier status."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.