Authorities in the South Korean capital of Seoul will scrap a controversial order for all foreign workers to be tested for coronavirus, they have said, after an outcry sparked complaints by embassies and a human rights probe.

The move came after the headquarters of the nation's pandemic control effort said it had asked the city to withdraw the order and improve testing policies to eliminate discrimination or rights violations, Reuters reported.

“The request is to prevent anti-Covid-19 efforts from causing any discrimination or human rights violations against citizens and foreign nationals,” the headquarters said in a statement.