The Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito and others plan to submit legislation aimed at eliminating discrimination related to the novel coronavirus, focusing in part on medical workers and people who contracted the virus.
The bill, which could be submitted before the end of the month, was drawn up by a group of lawmakers including Shuichi Takatori, an LDP House of Representatives member and the first Diet member to have tested positive for the virus.
They have asked the opposition parties to join them in submitting the bill with the goal of enacting it during the current Diet session.
The bill envisions cases such as infected people being terminated from their workplaces, former patients or the families of medical workers not being allowed to show up at work, or nursery schools rejecting the children of infected parents.
A draft of the bill states, "Nobody should be discriminated against due to the novel coronavirus."
The draft also requires the central government to conduct a fact-finding survey on discrimination and municipal governments to set up consultation systems.
While there would be no penalties for violations, Takatori said, "I hope people will be encouraged to try and understand those who are infected."
Municipalities nationwide have been enacting ordinances to prevent discrimination and prejudice related to the coronavirus.
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