International Labor Organization (ILO) defends HIV workers

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

On the 17th June, Geneva, ILO meeting adopted a new international labour standard on HIV and AIDS - the first international human rights instrument to focus specifically on the issue in the world of work.

The Recommendation will not only be an important instrument to guide the work of the ILO and its constituents but will also enhance coordination in the international AIDS community. With strong provisions on prevention and social protection, the Recommendation will reinforce ILO’s work in support of the UNAIDS ten priority areas. The final instrument is based on the following principles:

the response to HIV and AIDS should be recognized as contributing to the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including workers, their families and their dependants;

HIV and AIDS should be recognized and treated as a workplace issue, which should be included among the essential elements of the national, regional and international response to the pandemic with full participation of employers’ and workers’ organizations;

there should be no discrimination against or stigmatization of workers, in particular jobseekers and job applicants, on the grounds of real or perceived HIV status or the fact that they belong to segments of the population perceived to be at greater risk of or more vulnerable to HIV infection;

prevention of all modes of HIV transmission should be a fundamental priority;

workers, their families and their dependants should have access to and benefit from prevention, treatment, care and support in relation to HIV and AIDS, and the workplace should play a role in facilitating access to these services;

workers’ participation and engagement in the design, implementation and evaluation of national and workplace programmes should be recognized and reinforced;

workers should benefit from programmes to prevent specific risks of occupational transmission of HIV and related transmissible diseases, such as tuberculosis;

workers, their families and their dependents should enjoy protection of their privacy, including confidentiality related to HIV and AIDS, in particular with regard to their own HIV status;

no workers should be required to undertake an HIV test or disclose their HIV status;

measures to address HIV and AIDS in the world of work should be part of national development policies and programmes, including those related to labour, education, social protection and health; and

the protection of workers in occupations that are particularly exposed to the risk of HIV transmission.

full article: http://www.ilo.org/aids/Whatsnew/lang--en/WCMS_141909/index.htm

isabel