Mandatory HIV testing for employment of migrant workers in eight countries of South-East Asia: from discrimination to social dialogue

In the spirit of protecting the basic human rights of women and men who seek work abroad, we present this study on mandatory HIV testing of migrant workers. Its purpose is to promote an informed dialogue amongst representatives from governments and workers’ and employers’ organizations throughout Southeast Asia on this important subject. Upwards of hundreds of thousands of workers from the region are being tested for HIV without their informed consent each year, in contradiction of the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work, and in violation of their human rights. Moreover, some of them have their rights violated even further by being denied employment as a result of their HIV status. We hope that this study is a call to action to protect the dignity of workers who are being excluded from the labour market by this negative practice of mandatory HIV testing.