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A Richmond retailer’s sign advertising for a “Chinese sales person” appears to fly in the face of B.C. human rights law.

A Furniture Land outlet in Richmond recently erected a large sandwich board in its parking lot that read: Now hiring: We are hiring Chinese sales person.

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Debate about the sign lit up social media and led to complaints to Richmond city council, with commenters wondering whether the advertising is illegal and how it relates to the controversy in Richmond over Chinese-language-only signs.

The B.C. Human Rights Code prohibits hiring practices, including advertising, that unjustifiably discriminate against would-be employees based on characteristics such as gender, sexual orientation, age, race or colour.

An employee at the Furniture Land outlet on Bridgeport Road, who would not give his name, said Thursday the company designed a sign seeking a “Chinese sales person” because it wants to hire someone who can speak Mandarin or Cantonese to talk to the many customers who do not understand English.