Hi-tech hub Shenzhen allows firms to impose unpaid leave on workers who refuse Covid-19 testing

The measure forms part of the Shenzhen government’s zero-tolerance approach to sporadic coronavirus infections

Shenzhen firms are also directed not to terminate the contracts of employees who are unable to work because of quarantine policies

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Workers have lunch on tables divided with barriers at a company canteen in the Longhua Science and Technology Park in Shenzhen, in southern China's Guangdong province. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 6:00pm, 21 Jun 2021Updated: 4:16pm, 6 Jul 2021

Shenzhen, China’s Silicon Valley and the richest city in southern Guangdong province, has imposed new requirements on pandemic control measures, allowing companies in the hi-tech hub to impose unpaid leave for employees who refuse to take Covid-19 tests and prohibit them from entering workplaces.

The city’s Human Resources and Social Security Bureau released that policy last week as part of the local government’s zero-tolerance approach to sporadic coronavirus infections.

Employers need not pay the salary of workers for the period when they were put under quarantine or medical watch after being found in violation of official health control rules and regulations, according to a statement from the bureau.

It said employers cannot terminate the contracts of employees who are unable to work because of quarantine policies. In addition, workers’ contracts that are set to expire during their quarantine or medical watch will be postponed until the end of such period.

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Under the updated measures, all travellers leaving Guangdong through Shenzhen’s airport, railway, bus stations and ports from Sunday must present a negative test result valid within 48 hours. More than 9,600 passengers who did not meet that requirement were turned back from the city’s airport over the weekend.

Hi-tech hub Shenzhen allows firms to impose unpaid leave on workers who refuse Covid-19 testing

The measure forms part of the Shenzhen government’s zero-tolerance approach to sporadic coronavirus infections Shenzhen firms are also directed not to terminate the contracts of employees who are unable to work because of quarantine policies

The measure forms part of the Shenzhen government’s zero-tolerance approach to sporadic coronavirus infections

Shenzhen firms are also directed not to terminate the contracts of employees who are unable to work because of quarantine policies