HIV an important workplace issue

Newly published guidelines will help Posts develop HIV workplace policies and programmes for their staff.

The International Labour Organization, the UPU and UNI Global Union unveiled the new guidelines this week, as part of a global HIV-prevention campaign, which also involves the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

A key phase of the global campaign launched in 2009 is to encourage Posts to develop HIV workplace policies to raise awareness of prevention and protect infected staff.

“There’s no reason to think that postal workers are more at risk of contracting HIV than others, but because Posts are major employers, they can play an important role in the development of workplace policies, educating staff on the risks of HIV and protecting infected employees from stigma and helping them to remain productive,” said the ILO’s John Myers, who led the guidelines’ development.

UNI Global Union affiliates and the ILO’s field offices will promote the guidelines and assist Posts wanting to develop HIV workplace policies.

The ILO recently worked with Uganda Post to launch the campaign among staff on 9 October, World Post Day.

The guidelines are currently available in English and French. They will also soon be available in Spanish.

The first two phases of the joint global HIV-prevention campaign focused on raising awareness among the public through the post office network and philatelic initiatives to mark 30 years of HIV/AIDS in 2011.

The guidelines will also assist in promoting and implementing the ILO Recommendation concerning HIV and AIDS and the world of work. This first international labour standard on HIV and AIDS is designed to protect human rights at work and calls for measures to be taken to prevent HIV-related discrimination and stigma.

Courtesy : http://www.upu.int