No HIV tests on employees: Satyam

[Guest guest]

No HIV tests on employees: Satyam

Monday, March 27, 2006

Source: agencies

HYDERABAD: In order to prevent discrimination against people suffering from

AIDS, Satyam Computer Services has stopped conducting HIV tests on potential

employees. Satyam is perhaps the first Indian information technology (IT)

company to go away with the test on candidates selected for jobs in its various

software development centers and BPO unit Nipuna.

" From March, we have stopped conducting the HIV / AIDS test to protect employees

from discrimination at the workplace, " A S Murthy, Satyam's Director and Senior

Vice-President (HR), said.

While some foreign companies here don't conduct an HIV test in line with the

policies of their countries, many multinationals and major Indian IT and BPO

firms make prospective employees go through the process. Those who test positive

are not considered fit for certain jobs.

Murthy said, " If a person is found positive during the test, this could be known

to everyone working with him and may result in further isolation (of him). "

Satyam has more than 28,000 employees at its development centers in Hyderabad,

Bangalore, Chennai and Bhubaneswar.

_______________

Jagdish Harsh

jharsh@...