People wearing face masks walk by the headquarters of the Bank of Korea in Seoul, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP)South Korea’s capital has ordered coronavirus tests for all foreign workers as the country expands mass testing targeting expatriates in a campaign that has triggered complaints of discrimination. Seoul officials said on Wednesday the testing requirement covers all foreign nationals employed in the city, regardless of their visa status, as well as their employers. The decision comes after similar measures in nearby Gyeonggi province, which is also forcing employers to require tests for new foreign jobseekers and hire only those who test negative. Critics have questioned why South Korean authorities are mandating broad tests based on nationality instead of specifically targeting people with vulnerable working conditions. The province said it has found 149 positive cases among some 160,000 foreigners tested during the week through to Monday.

Source: Irish Independent March 17, 2021 07:57 UTC