Firing of lecturer suffering from cancer is a cruel and illegal act

A 32-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE LECTURER in Lanzhou, capital of Northwest China's Gansu province, who died of ovarian cancer recently, had been fired while she was away for medical treatment. Gmw.com commented on Saturday:

Accusing the lecturer of "chronic absenteeism", her college sacked her even though her mother had explained in advance the cause of her absence to the college management. The abrupt decision cost the lecturer her job, salary, medical insurance and eventually her life, giving rise to a heated public debate over the protection of employees' legal rights and interests.

Many who sympathize with her find it hard to believe that even a college lecturer could fall victim to a heartless management, and say her dismissal should be seen as a serious violation of the legal rights of lecturers.