A Chinese trade union warned against job discrimination against former COVID-19 patients in a notice published Wednesday, as work and production gradually recover in regions with low coronavirus cases.

Employers shall not refuse to employ recovered coronavirus patients for the reason that they had been infected, the Federation of Trade Unions in eastern China's Anhui Province underlined in the notice.

According to labor laws, employees who are confirmed as coronavirus infectors and need to stop working for treatment shall enjoy a medical treatment period, and shall be paid no less than 80 percent of local minimum wage.

For those with suspected infection, employers shall not unilaterally terminate the labor contract by reason of illness or non-work-related injuries of employees as well as serious difficulties in production and operation.

The trade union stressed that employers shall abide by laws and regulations during the anti-epidemic period to stick to labor contracts and pay wages.

Local governments are also offering free health checkups to workers who have to resume work in other regions and are arranging chartered public transport such as buses, trains and airplanes to take them back to distant workplaces.

(With inputs from Xinhua)