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(Transgender, 53 yrs, Upper secondary education, SW)Impact on career options and upward mobilityHIV/AIDS had impacted on career options and job mobility for all groups ofrespondents. The MSM, although better off working as professionals, some of them wereforced to quit high-paying jobs, or even leave the country, and subsequently had to resortto lower paying jobs.“Like for myself for example...is ...to compare with the pay that I used tohave and my pay now. I mean...there’s a difference...you know...”(Male, 40 yrs, Upper secondary education)A member of the MSM group recounted when he was first diagnosed when still workingin Singapore:“No counselling...whether you go this...you go...there is the governmentin Singapore...They make it very confidential...they won’t tell thecompany that I work...but they ask me to resign la from thecompany...because they won’t let you stay in Singapore.”(Male, 46 yrs, University education, MSM)For many, the disease had removed whatever potential or better options in their careers.“Before ...I was diagnosed, I have so many options...you know...I can doso many things.”(Male, 40 yrs, Upper secondary education, DU)The impact is far reaching and deep because, as some of them explained, even thoughthey can maintain their health sufficiently to work, they would be discriminated eachtime they apply for a job as it is now a common requirement that applicants do a medicaltest and they fear their HIV/AIDS status would be revealed.“Generally...ah I mean now if you asked us to for job interview...I meanI’ve applied for a couple of jobs and...you know...when you going forinterview...there’s gonna be a medical test and...I mean...always when Ithink of it...I’m...err...it just...arr... it just remind me that may be I have todo a HIV test...of course I’m not going to do because once they dothat...that shows there’s discrimination. Why should they do a HIV test...Imean a person living with HIV/AIDS, they still work...ah...so...why theyneed to do a HIV test...So, I mean but then...if we go and if we do it...ifthey find out that you’re HIV positive...will they accept you or not? Willany hmm...company or...anywhere...will they accept you or not?So...that...that’s the fear also.”(Male, 50 yrs, Upper secondary education, DU)It is particularly daunting for sex workers. A couple of them could not reveal their HIV+status because they knew clients would refuse their service.68