AIDS and Discrimination at Workplace
The HIV epidemic and associated diseases are responsible for not only intensifying poverty and slowing economic growth but also in many cases lead to reversing a number of development gains. AIDS adversely impacts the labour force, highly affecting enterprise efficiency in private and public sectors and the transfer of skills and experience. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has taken the initiative of promoting an understanding of AIDS as a workplace issue, mobilizing action in the world of work, and strengthening the capacity of the workers' and employers organisations to sustain effective programmes.
The ILO Approach: Combating HIV/AIDS through Decent Work
Through the Decent Work Agenda, the ILO promotes integrated action in respect of rights, employment and income generation, and social protection, underpinned by a new dynamic in social dialogue. An example of integrated action is the current Sectoral Action Programme on HIV/AIDS, covering six areas of economic activity. One output is likely to be joint ILO-WHO guidelines on HIV/AIDS for health sector workers. The ILO initiative covers the following aspects:
1) Non-discrimination: Standard-setting and policy guidance
Discrimination on the basis of HIV status deprives workers of rights and livelihoods and employers of key staff. However, persons with HIV may live and work for many years and present no risk to co-workers. The ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work sets out fundamental principles for policy development and practical guidelines for the development of programmes at enterprise, community and national levels. It promotes a comprehensive approach to workplace action, including:
¡ The protection of workers' rights, including employment protection, gender equality, entitlement to benefits, and non-discrimination;
¡ Prevention through education, gender-aware programmes, and practical support for behaviour change;
¡ Care and support, including access to benefits, reasonable accommodation of tasks and workplace, as well as treatment in settings where local health systems are inadequate.
¡ An education and training manual, Implementing the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work guides the application of the Code. This tool is being used to develop skills and institutional capacity. This approach is reinforced by the identification, analysis and dissemination of best practices in workplace action.
2) Technical cooperation: Advice and capacity building
ILO country-level projects focus on advisory services at all levels and on enhancing the capacity of the constituents and other stakeholders to respond at the workplace. A comprehensive report provides details: Technical cooperation: implementing the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work.
3) Social dialogue and partnerships
The largest global organizations of employers and workers (International Organization of Employers and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) have signed a commitment to co-operate against HIV/AIDS, 'Fighting HIV/AIDS together: a programme for future engagement'. They are currently putting in place joint action plans in eight pilot countries. Guidelines exist to help both employers' and workers' organizations promote and support action against HIV/AIDS among their members.
4) Social Protection: Expanding social security
The ILO Global Campaign on Social Security and Coverage for All is contributing to MDG 6 as well as other MDGs. In addition to ensuring improved access to health care, ILO social protection activities especially contributing to MDG 6 include:
¡ The involvement of community-based organizations, especially in the informal economy and rural areas, which is crucial to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS. Community-based health insurance systems (micro-insurance, mutual health organization) can play a key role in that respect.
¡ Analyses and advice concerning safe and healthy workplaces. Successful workplace policies on health and safety, and especially on HIV/AIDS, are ideal platforms to reach out to the whole society.
5) Joint initiative: Expanding access to health care
Ensuring affordable access to high quality health care to all needing it is part of ILO's Decent Work Agenda and would contribute to successfully combat AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Important ILO Conventions related to this work are Convention No. 102 on Minimum Standards in Social Security and Convention No. 130 concerning Medical Care and Sickness Benefits (as well as Recommendation No. 134) As the price of antiretroviral therapy falls, it becomes increasingly possible to provide treatment for HIV/AIDS. The ILO is a partner in the WHO/UNAIDS '3 by 5' initiative, and guides workplace health services in this field, as well as promoting a campaign to 'Know your status”. The ILO also develops public-private partnerships, involving companies, donors and the State, to extend access to treatment to the wider community.
Related Links
¡ For more information related to ILO's initiative on HIV and AIDS, visit http://www.niaid.nih.gov/.
¡ For more information about campaigns, visit www.civicus.org
¡ For facts and figures on malaria, visit
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/mdg-factsheets/malariafactsheet.pdf
¡ For MDG 6 indicators and explanations thereof, visit
http://millenniumindicators.un.org/unsd/mi/mi_goals.asp
¡ UNAIDS website http://www.unaids.org/en/default.asp
¡ ILO/AIDS website http://mirror/public/english/protection/trav/aids/ |
