Strategies and Perspectives to Address HIV and AIDS in the Workplace

1. Strategies and Perspectives to Address HIV and AIDS in the Workplace Regional experiences Ana Catalina Ramírez Abarca HIV/AIDS Focal Point ILO Subregional Office

2. National legislations and standards Policies Programes Application of the ILO Code of Practices on HIV and AIDS in the Workplace HIV and AIDSNational Plan HIV and AIDS Plan for the Workplace Prevention No discrimination Care and support

3. Legislations, standards and policies norms at the regional level • Situation in the 34 States of the Americas and the Caribbean: • 23 have a national policy to address HIV and AIDS • All have a National Coordinating Response Unit

4. Legislations, standards and policies norms at the regional level • HIV and AIDS national laws address workplace issues • In the Caribbean, specific HIV and AIDS legislation and policies address workplace issues • Caribbean Policy for the workplace and the Declaration of Port of Spain are two examples of regional policies • CSI-IEO Declaration

5. Legislations, standards and policies norms at the regional level • Guidelines of the ILO’s Code of Practices frequently found in national laws and policies: • Acknowledge that HIV and AIDS is a work- place issue • Eliminate stigma and discrimination in the workplace • Prohibit the use of screening practices as a means to exclude infected persons from the workplace or work processes

6. Positive aspects • The importance of the workplace is recognized • The fundamental labor rights are observed • General actions in accordance with the ILO Code of Practices

7. Challenges • Lack of information and the laws • Absence of consistency in general and labor laws • Health-based approach • Absence of control mechanisms

8. Practical Regional Experiences • Employer-based initiatives • Business coalitions: Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Jamaica, Brazil • Policies at the workplace coordinated by Human Resources Departments or Occupational Health and Safety Offices • Scant experiences from the public sector

9. Labor Organizations Initiatives • Interectorial actions: transport and education • Research: LACCASO-CIOSL study about labor standards and its application • Trade Unions commissions: Brazil, Honduras, Dominican Republic

10. Ministers of Labor Initiatives • Efforts to include the subject in the inspectors agenda reported at Honduras and Dominican Republic • Specific training for the key staff of the Ministers of Labor (inspectors, dialogue, female workers) • In the Caribbean, tripartite policies for the workplace

11. Regional balance • First steps have been already taken but we need more mechanism to assure their application: • Revision and diffusion of national laws and policies • Joint actions and harmonized with a national policy frame • Strengthening of the Ministers of Labor capacities- inspection and prevention

12. Sharing good practices: What works ? • Incorporate other sector of the economy; especially local enterprises with high risk of infection • General monitoring and evaluation framework

13. Perspectives: Forward strategic actions • Foment health and security training programs for Ministers of Labor • Presence of the labor authorities in national commissions • Inclusion of the subject matter in the tripartite national agendas

14. Foment the application of shared good practices • Create national frameworks for action

15. Thank you very much for your attention