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The VCT@WORK Initiative, launched by the ILO and UNAIDS, aims to promote HIV testing and facilitate access to treatment for workers and their communities. With low testing rates and millions remaining untreated, the initiative leverages the world of work to reach a vast population living with HIV. Through a two-phase implementation approach in select countries and adherence to key testing principles, the initiative seeks to make HIV testing more accessible and effective in workplaces. Trade unions play a crucial role in addressing the epidemic's impact on vulnerable populations, emphasizing early diagnosis and access to treatment. The initiative aligns with global efforts like the Getting to Zero@Work Campaign and advocates for coordinated actions to achieve zero new infections, discrimination, and AIDS-related deaths in workplaces.
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THE VCT@WORK INITIATIVE a presentation by Akua Ofori-Asumadu ITUC 2nd Women World Conference
What is the VCT@WORK Initiative? • Launched by the ILO and UNAIDS in June 2013 at the 102nd ILC • Contributes to achieving the global target of 15 million by 2015 (2011 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS)
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES? • To promote HIV testingto enable five million women and men workers,(their spouses and community members) to know their status by 2015 • To facilitate access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) for women and men workers, (their spouses and community members) who test positive and are eligible for ART.
Why the VCT@WORK Initiative? • Low levels of HIV testing (UNAIDS Report) • About 7.0 million people are currently eligible, but are not receiving treatment. • The majority do not know their HIV status • Increased availability of treatment • HIV is no longer a death sentence • HIV treatments today are both effective and easier to take • The unique contribution of the world of work • The world of work constitutes the largest population of people living with HIV globally • As the UN agency mandated to address world of work issues, the ILO’s comparative advantage is its ability to reach millions of workers in both the formal and informal economies.
Why the VCT@WORK Initiative? • A more conducive legal and policy environment that builds upon: • tripartite HIV and AIDS national/sectoralworkplace policies • labour legislation and policy • Building the capacity of labour judges, magistrates, parliamentarians, labour factory inspectors and other world of work actors • Taking HIV testing IN and THROUGH the workplace • i.e. a considerable amount of HTC will still take place within healthcare settings
Where and When will the VCT@WORK Initiative be implemented? • A two-phase approach will be taken to operationalize the VCT@WORK Initiative at the country level • The first phase will be in a few countries where there is already political buy-in and expressed commitment to the initiative (Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and South Africa)
Where and When? • Emphasis will be placed on UNAIDS High Impact Countriesiative • ILO and its partners will undertake a global mapping exercise to identify on-going activities • Every effort will be made to support VCT initiatives that the ILO‘s constituents could associate themselves with
How should the VCT tests be carried out The initiative is not a one-size-fits-all • HTC conducted as part of an integrated health and wellness testing approach • Stand alone • Different approaches: CICT – VCT, PICT, HIV Self-Testing, Couples Testing and Multi-disease campaigns
Which principles must be adhered to? • The key principles for HIV Testing are: • Consent • Confidentiality, • Counselling, • Convenience and • Connection to care
How will it be different? • The VCT@WORK Initiative is being situated within a coordinated approach comprising a number of interventions: • the Getting to Zero@Work Campaign • Recommendation No. 200 on HIV and AIDS • Other International Labour Standards.
Why do Trade Union need to do anything about VCT@Work? Because: • HIV exists in complex relationships with poverty, inequality, discrimination and illiteracy • workers - and their families, workplaces and communities that depend on them are - bearing the brunt of the epidemic
Why do Trade Union need to do anything about VCT@Work? • The burden is on the most vulnerable people in society: women, children and the poor • HIV is no longer a death sentence and PLHIV can expect to live long healthy and productive lives • Early diagnosis is key and VCT is the gateway for access to treatment
Union action contains a clear message: The principles, experience, networks and mass membership of trade unions are a shared resource and a potentially powerful tool in society’s search for new fronts, bold initiatives and effective action in response to the mitigation of the impact of HIV (Global reach: how trade unions are responding to AIDS - Case studies of union action)
Conclusion • “Zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths start at work.” • «Zéro nouvelle infection. Zéro discrimination. Zéro décès lié au sida. La réalisation de ce triple objectif commence sur le lieu de travail.» Sharan Burrow, General Secretary - International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
