June 17- The NHRCK issued a recommendation to a bank to improve its hiring procedure. This recommendation came after the bank’s refusal to hire a Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) carrier, which is discrimination.
The complainant, identified as Mr. Kim, said, “I passed the final job interview for the bank, but eventually was not hired after a physical check-up revealed that I was a HBV carrier. This is discrimination against people based on medical history.”
The bank explained, “Communication with customers was the main job of the team Mr. Kim applied for, and we were worried about HBV spreading to customers. Also, the HBV virus could have progressed more quickly because of the excessive labor he would have done.”
The NHRCK said “The written opinion from the physical check-up says ‘as a HBV carrier, Mr. Kim is not considered to have problems with working or in regular daily activities.’ The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs also says HBV is not infectious through regular daily activities.”
The NHRCK added that the Korea Association for the Study of the Liver recently concluded that there is no evidence overwork or stress worsen an existing virus-induced liver disease.
In 2003, the NHRCK recommended to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security (MOPAS), that it should alter its policy regarding physical check-ups for the appointment of public officials. The NHRCK said, “HBV does not necessarily disable a person from performing one’s tasks.” The MOPAS accepted the recommendation and amended its policy in 2005.
