With increasing media attention and international worry over the Coronavirus, there is a growing danger of discrimination against those of Chinese origin because of the current viral health scare. The Federation of International Employers (FedEE) is warning employers that they will face litigation and loss of reputation if they allow such prejudice to enter the workplace.
Such abuse has already been seen in France where one region's newspaper used a photograph of an Asian person in a mask under the headline "Alerte Jaune" (yellow alert). The newspaper has since apologised, but the Chinese community have started using the hashtag "JeNeSuisPasUnVirus" (I am not a virus).
According to Robin Chater, Secretary-General of FedEE, "This social disease will be institutionalised once those of Chinese origin are denied jobs, refused hotel accommodation or access to transport. Linking a disease to racial prejudice is something new, as it never arose over HIV/AIDS in respect to those of African origin or for those of Arabic origin over MERS. Perhaps it is driven by the same underlying spirit of economic envy as that which Trump's America has for China - a deep-seated prejudice just waiting for the right trigger to emerge."
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
