manual: women workers' rights and gender equality - International ...

HIV/AIDS at work
HIV/AIDS is a workplace issue because:
• there are 23 million infected workers aged 15 to 49 years in the world
• this has a great impact on the workforce and enterprises
• it has an impact on fundamental rights at work
• the workplace can help to limit the spread and mitigate the impact of the epidemic
The ILO has developed a Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS at Work in 2001. All member States of the
ILO, including Cambodia endorsed this Code of Practice (for the full Code of Practice: see
www.ilo.org/aids). The objective of the Code of Practice is to provide guidelines for governments,
employers and workers to help them develop concrete responses to HIV/AIDS at the enterprise,
community and national levels.
There are 10 key principles mentioned in this Code:
1. HIV/AIDS is a workplace issue: it affects the workforce and the workplace has a role to play
in the struggle against AIDS
2. Non-discrimination: there should be no discrimination against workers who are infected
3. Gender Equality: women are more likely to be infected due to biological, socio-cultural and
economic reasons. Therefore, more equal gender relations and empowerment of women are
vital to successfully prevent the spread of HIV infection.
4. Healthy Work Environment: is necessary to prevent transmission of HIV
5. Social Dialogue: there should be co-operation and trust between employers, workers and
government to address this problem
6. No Screening: HIV/AIDS screening should not be required of job applicants or persons in
employment
7. Confidentiality: personal data related to HIV status should be bound to the rules of
confidentiality
8. Continuation of employment relationship: persons with HIV-related illnesses should be
enabled to work as long as they are medically fit in available, appropriate work
9. Prevention: all possible measures should be taken at the workplace to prevent HIV infections:
behaviour, knowledge, treatment and creation of a non-discriminatory environment
10. Care and Support: all workers, including workers with HIV, are entitled to affordable health
services
Related sessions and briefing notes
4.20 Occupational Safety and Health
Briefing Note 8 Health Rights and Work
Briefing note 9 Violation of Rights at Work: File a Complaint
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