GENEVA (ILO News) - In the face of new projections which show a sharp decline in the size of Africa's workforce due to AIDS, the International Labour Organization (ILO) today announced plans for a new programme against HIV/AIDS in the workplace aimed at helping governments, workers and employers in their struggle with the disease.
A new study, "HIV/AIDS in Africa: The impact on the world of work. 1 shows that the size of the labour force in some African countries could be up to 35% smaller by the year 2020 than it would have been without HIV/AIDS. Although the figures vary from country to country, the new study of 29 countries' labour forces showed significantly sharper declines in the workforce due to AIDS than an ILO study issued just this past June.
Based on an analysis of UN population data by the ILO, the
study showed that the projected decline in the workforce in 29
2
countries due to AIDS would range between
5% and 35% by the year 2020, adding, "Africa today is
losing its prime labour force to HIV/AIDS".
"The concern is not only with the size of the labour force, but also its quality," the report said. "Many of those infected with HIV are experienced and skilled workers in both blue-collar and white-collar jobs. The loss of these workers, together with the entry into the labour market of orphaned children who have to support themselves, is likely to lower both the average age of many workforces and their average level of skills and experience."
The report said that workers at special risk include miners, transport workers, security personnel, teachers, health workers and seasonal or migrant workers in agriculture, construction and tourism. It noted that AIDS was having an especially severe impact on agriculture in Africa, in particular on women who perform most principal tasks in farming and produce between 60% and 80% of the continent's food.
"These figures do not take into account the reduced capacity of many of those still in the labour force but sick from AIDS-related illnesses," the study said. "The age and sex composition of the workforce is also expected to change as more orphaned children and widows seek employment; another trend might be the retention of workers beyond retirement age in order to keep experienced staff."
force but sick from AIDS-related illnesses," the study said. "The age and sex composition of the workforce is also expected to change as more orphaned children and widows seek employment; another trend might be the retention of workers beyond retirement age in order to keep experienced staff."
New ILO programme
The new ILO Global Programme on HIV/AIDS in the World of Work has been inaugurated to coordinate efforts of the Organization. The programme will add a dimension of social justice to the global effort against HIV/AIDS already undertaken by international organizations such as the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) with which the ILO signed a cooperation agreement in June.
"The ILO has the will and the commitment to join this
fight," said Juan Somavia, the ILO Director-General in a
message released today for World AIDS Day.
"HIV/AIDS is a social and a labour issue as much as a
biomedical problem. The pandemic is a threat to the realization
of the ILO's primary goal of promoting opportunities
for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in
conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity."
"HIV/AIDS directly concerns issues related to fundamental principles and rights at work," Mr. Somavia added. "Discrimination in the workplace is one example. Consider also the consequences for children - at a time when the elimination of child labour is becoming a global cause, AIDS orphans may be obliged to support themselves and their siblings, perhaps even the older generations no longer able to work. Such children may be particularly vulnerable to hazardous and dangerous work."
The ILO secretariat is to inaugurate projects in eight countries in Asia, Africa and Central and Eastern Europe as well as a regional project for the Caribbean in 2001 to help governments, and workers' and employers' organizations increase their efforts to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS in the world of work. The programme will also seek to increase awareness and advocacy for preventing the spread of HIV and providing protection, care and support for those living with HIV/AIDS, develop preventive and protection programmes for workers and employers and help develop new legislation and policy for HIV/AIDS in the world of work.
The ILO Governing Body, meeting in their 279
th session in November, strongly endorsed the
preparation by the ILO of a new
Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS in the world
of work. Such a Code would provide legal guidance to ILO
constituents on developing a workplace policy for HIV/AIDS on
such issues as discrimination and stigma, acceptable performance
standards, reasonable accommodation, security of employment and
promotion, confidentiality and privacy, protection against
victimization, avoiding segregation, addressing co-workers'
concerns, and employee education and assistance.
The Code of Practice could also cover such issues as prevention of HIV transmission, training for managers, supervisors, workers' representatives, health and safety officers and factory inspectors, and special training for health care workers and other groups of workers who have contact with blood on the job. Other issues to be considered include testing for HIV and care and support for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
The ILO is the world's premier organization for formulating international policies and programmes to promote basic human rights and principles at work, improving working and living conditions and enhancing employment opportunities. In addition to international labour Conventions and Recommendations which are international treaties subject to ratification by its member States, the annual International Labour Conference, as well as other ILO bodies, can agree on less formal documents such as codes of practice that have a normative effect and can be used as guidelines by the Organization's tripartite partners.
1"HIV/AIDS in Africa: The impact on the world of work", International Labour Office, Geneva. The study was prepared for the Africa Development Forum 2000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 3-7 December 2000 and expands on "HIV/AIDS: A threat to decent work, productivity and development" issued 8 June 2000. The full texts of the reports are available on the ILO website, at www.ilo.org/aids
2The following figures show projected losses in the workforce due to HIV/AIDS by the year 2020 (percent figures in brackets): Benin, (-4.8), Botswana (-30.8), Burkina Faso (-10.5), Burundi (-10.5), Cameroon (-12), Central African Republic (-14.4), Chad (-6.1), Congo (-9.5), Democratic Republic Congo (-7.1), Côte d'Ivoire (-12.8), Eritrea (-5), Ethiopia (-10.5), Gabon (-9.7), Guinea-Bissau (-10.2), Kenya (-20.2), Lesotho (-10.6), Liberia (-5.3), Malawi (-16), Mozambique (-24.9), Namibia (-35.1), Nigeria (-7.5), Rwanda (-9.6), Sierra Leone (-6.6), South Africa (-24.9), United Republic of Tanzania (-14.6), Togo (-10.6), Uganda (-15.8), Zambia (-2.3), Zimbabwe (-29.4).