Meaning:

Pre-employment medical examinations are commonly included by employers in the selection process of candidates for jobs and are usually conducted in the final stage of the recruitment process. Some employers ask for pre-employment medical examinations to be conducted as a matter of routine practice, without considering what the purpose behind such examinations is. Often an applicant who is found to be pregnant or to have a certain disability is not offered the job after the medical examination, regardless of whether the applicant is able to perform the job. This may be unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance (SDO) and/or the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO).

Medical examination of the candidates is undertaken before they join the firm in order to:
- Find out whether the candidate is physically fit to carry out duties and responsibilities effectively,
- Ensure the health and safety of other employees,

- Find out whether the candidate is sensitive to certain work place such as in a chemical factory.

An employer should only ask for a pre-employment medical examination for the purpose of:
- determining whether the applicant is able, with or without any adjustment, to perform the inherent requirements of the job; or
- checking whether the applicant has any infectious disease so that the employer may act reasonably in order to protect public health.

Medical