HIV education vital in workplaces

HIV is spreading from urban to rural areas and from high-risk to the general population, said Minister of Labour Relations and Manpower Athauda Seneviratne at a breakfast meeting at the Hotel Hilton recently.

This would reduce the supply of labour and slash incomes of workers, force workers to be retrenched resulting in loss of valuable skills and experience in addition to create a very serious health hazard, said the Minister. Therefore, education in HIV/AIDS is crucial among workers. They then have more favourable attitudes towards persons with HIV/ AIDS.

Development of work polices and capacity building activities for Government officers, employers and trade unions should take place sooner at work places.

At this conference held for CEOs it was stressed that the financial crisis was causing reductions in health budgets., development assistance and treatment programs and had an impact on individual incomes.

However, the new ILO instrument will provide opportunities to strengthen social dialogue and safeguard the rights of workers and protect jobs, mainstream gender in HIV/AIDS workplace policies and programs to strengthen prevention efforts and support care and treatment, he said.

HP