Workers With Mental Illness Face Discrimination: EOC

The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) on Tuesday called on the government to do more to protect workers who have a mental illness, saying a survey suggests the majority of such employees have suffered discrimination at the hands of their bosses.

The watchdog said it recently interviewed 265 workers with a mental illness and 70 percent reported experiencing discrimination in the workplace, such as being overlooked for promotion or getting a lower salary than their peers.

The EOC said it received some 230 complaints in the past five years regarding mental illness discrimination related to employment, but it believes the majority of those discriminated against take no action because they worry it will harm their career prospects.

Doris Tsui, acting head of the commission, said employers must put an end to such discrimination.

But she added that the EOC is also urging the government to amend the Disability Discrimination Ordinance to ensure that an employer is responsible for ensuring workers with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations, including those with mental illness.

The watchdog also suggests the government could help employers introduce anti-discrimination polices.