In order to protect children from criminals, Shanghai has introduced a new regulation to prevent sex offenders from working in certain occupations, reports The Paper.
According to the new law, certain organizations and agencies should run background checks on applicants for occupations that involve close contact with kids. These fields include teachers, doctors, caregivers, security guards, janitors, drivers, volunteers and many more.
Apart from running background checks on job applicants, certain companies are also being asked to investigate the records of current employees. If any red flags are found, the staff member will be dismissed.
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Applicants convicted of sexual crimes, including expatriates, are required to hand over their own records to companies or agencies. The records should be kept confidential so that they will not impact job hunters who are applying for positions that do not involve minors.
The regulation has been put in place to protect children and to limit the access of those with a history of sexual assault to children in Shanghai. Research has shown that prior offenders are likely to commit the same crimes again.
READ MORE: Shanghai Sex Offenders Database to Provide Further Protection for Children
Similar measures were first trialed in Minhang District of Shanghai back in 2017. Apart from restricting sex offenders from specific jobs, the district also set up a blacklist of sex offenders. By the end of 2018, the district had cross-referenced over 15,000 employees.
At last year’s Two Sessions, various representatives and committee members advocated the expansion of the new law across the city. As a result, the regulation was finally introduced in April. Signed by a total of 16 organizations, the regulation will be executed and supervised by agencies including the Shanghai People’s Procuratorate, Shanghai Higher People’s Court, Shanghai Public Security Bureau and Shanghai Education Commission.
[Cover image via Pexels]
