The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has today (16 December 2011) issued legal proceedings under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance, Cap. 487 in the District Court, on behalf of a complainant whose employment was terminated by her former employer, allegedly on the ground of her having to take sick leave for medical examinations and treatments due to her illness. The Plaintiff was diagnosed to have liver metastatic neuroendocrine tumor and had received medical treatments for about several months. Her employment service was allegedly terminated under the pretext of poor business.

It has been brought to the EOC’s attention that there was still a considerable number of cases whereby employees having to take leave for their disabilities and illnesses tended to be unfavourably treated or even dismissed by their employers under various pretext. By taking this case to court, the EOC hopes to raise public awareness on the fact that disability discrimination in the workplace is illegal and unacceptable.

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