Staff of PT Mayasari Bakti patiently and enthusiastically queued in the line waiting for his/her turn to take HIV test, including A. Zulkifli, Assistant to PT Mayasari Director. “Representing the management, I need to set an example and become the role model for the staff about the importance of knowing our status and to encourage all employees to participate in the voluntarily testing at work,” said Zulkifli.

Witnessed by more 100 employees participating at the voluntarily HIV test and counseling at work (VCT@Work) programme in the mid of April. Zulkifli took the HIV test. The medical examiner quickly took his blood for testing, followed by other staff. At the end of the the VCT@Work programme, a total of 116 staff and management of PT Mayasari Bakti participated in the programme.

The VCT@Work programme was held by the ILO and the City AIDS Commission of Jakarta Timur for staff and management PT Mayasari Bakti, one of the leading land transportation companies in the country and it has become the official operator of Transjakarta, a national transportation system in Indonesia, since 2016.

The programme was also conducted with the 100th anniversary of the ILO which falls on 11 April. For 100 years, the ILO has advanced social justice and promoted decent work in all aspects of the world of work, including on the promotion of non-discriminatory policies at the workplace. The ILO Centenary also marks Indonesia’s 69 years journey with the ILO since becoming one of the ILO’s member States in 1950.

“I want to protect myself and my family,” Rianty Rohyati, a woman driver who has worked as a driver for 9 years, told her reason to participate in the VCT@Work. “My other reason is that safety is a number one priority for drivers. It is important for drivers to understand about issues related to HIV and AIDS at the workplace.”

Sugiyono, a security, had other reason. He shared an experience in his hometown where the local community were terrified and alarmed knowing that one of local youth was found HIV positive. “The community isolated them because they have little knowledge about HIV and AIDS. I greatly appreciate the effort taken by the company to conduct this HIV prevention programme,” he said.

An internal commitment for a non-discriminatory policy

Prior to the VCT@Work programme, top management of PT Mayasari Bakti signed a commitment to implement internal non-discriminatory policy and HIV prevention programme at PT Mayasari Bakti. This commitment is in line with the ILO Recommendation No. 200 on HIV and AIDS, the Manpower Ministerial Decree No. 68/2004 and the Instruction of Minister of Transportation No. 3/2017.

The Commitment was signed by A. Zulkifli, Assistant to PT Mayasari Director, The commitment highlighted the commitment of PT Mayasari Bakti to create safe and healthy working environment and to protect the workplace from the risks of being infected by HIV and AIDS.

“We are committed to HIV prevention programme at the workplace through the implementation of non-discriminatory policy and through awareness raising about this issue. By empowering our staff to be more skillful and knowledgeable about health issues, this in turn will increase the productivity and early detection,” said Zulkifli.

ILO engagement of private sector on HIV prevention programme

The commitment of PT Mayasari Bakti is the third signed commitment by the company. Similar commitments have been signed by PT Angkasa Pura II, one of the state-owned companies engaged in the airport services and by the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo).

“The ILO continue to encourage the private sector to implement a non-discriminatory policy at the workplace and to promote the importance of knowing your status. It is also in line with the three zero campaign on HIV: Zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths,” said Early Nuriana Dewi, ILO’s programme officer on HIV and AIDS at the workplace.