Reaching out to industries with high vulnerability to HIV pandemic, the ILO conducted a one day executive briefing meeting with shipping and construction industries of Indonesia in Jakarta in July 2019. The morning meeting was conducted for shipping industry, in collaboration with the Indonesian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA); while the afternoon meeting was conducted for construction companies, in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.

Before 55 participants, representing 30 shipping companies, Budhi Halim, General Secretary of INSA, emphasized the significance of the joint collaboration between the ILO and INSA to raise the awareness of owners and managers of shipping companies regarding the impact of the HIV to industry and the importance of HIV prevention programme.

“We greatly appreciate the support given by the ILO. Because of the nature of our work, seafarers are vulnerable to the HIV epidemic. We are keen to incorporate this issue into our seafarers’ training skills, particularly for young seafarers, and to strengthen our educational programme,” stated Budhi.

Tonny Pangaribuan, a retired seafarer who is now active as a unionist from KSPSI-CAITU, encouraged seafarers to voluntarily take HIV test. “Do not be afraid to take HIV test. I had taken the test three times and all of them were negative. By knowing our status, we can better protect ourselves, families and working environments,” he said.

The meeting concluded with the interests from the majority of the participating companies to implement HIV/AIDS prevention programme at the workplace. “The high interests shown by the participating companies are beyond the ILO’s expectation. The ILO will continue supporting the Indonesia shipping industry in the implementation of HIV prevention programme,” said Early D. Nuriana, the ILO’s national coordinator for HIV/AIDS.

Similar enthusiasms were also shown by 30 participants from eight big construction companies, participating in the afternoon executive briefing meeting. The representative of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works emphasized the importance of updating the HIV educational materials as means to expand the HIV prevention programmes and increase the number of companies implementing the prevention programmes.

Best practices on HIV prevention programme were shared by PT Hazama Ando in Wonogiri, Central Java. They shared a comprehensive HIV/AIDS programme that they have incorporated through its occupational safety and health (OSH) programme. The company has developed HIV prevention programmes not only for its management and workers, but also for its surrounding communities.

“We have involved local authorities to jointly implement educational programme for the local community. As a result, the local community of Wonogiri had declared a community participation in the HIV and AIDS, ‘Warga Peduli AIDS’, last year. Through this programme, local community actively involves in information dissemination, in providing care and treatment as well as in eliminating stigma and discrimination,” said Denny B. Cosca, HSE Officer.

The meeting also concluded with the high interests from the construction companies to further implement HIV prevention programmes at their workplaces. The interested companies included big construction companies such as Istaka Karya, Waskita Karya and Wijaya Karya.