BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese courts will reject employers' applications to fire employees citing epidemic-related excuses, according to a guideline released by the Supreme People's Court (SPC) Monday.

Among other guidance for courts on handling epidemic-related civil cases, the document said an individual having been infected or suspected of being infected with COVID-19 or staying in quarantine due to the disease, or hailing from Hubei Province or other coronavirus hot spots are not valid reasons for employers to terminate labor contracts with employees.

Calling for better protection of consumers' rights and interests, the SPC asked courts to invoke the punitive punishment principle when ruling over cases involving the manufacturing and sale of fake or inferior face masks, safety goggles, protective suits, disinfectants, food and drugs, the guideline said.

The document also said in law suits, courts can adopt flexible measures against the properties of micro, small and medium-sized businesses seriously affected by the epidemic amid efforts to help them tide over the difficulties.