Background

The ILO responds to the HIV epidemic by providing technical assistance and support through a range of workplace programmes, specifically to contribute concretely to UNAIDS 90-90-90 treatment targets and more specifically to HIV testing in the world of work. In Indonesia, ILO has been promoting VCT@work along with non-discriminatory policy development on HIV at work place to create supporting policy and enable environment on VCT initiative at workplace to increase workers’ initiative to know their HIV status earlier and accessing treatment for workers living with HIV. The initiative has made notable progress in improving awareness of the workers, and private sectors, facilitating HIV counseling and testing and creating linkages with treatment and care and support for workers tested HIV positive.

However, stigma and discrimination on HIV are identified as significant challenges when there is no stronger binding among trade union and the management of the company. Moreover, the basic education on HIV prevention as the key point on reducing stigma and discrimination take an important role to increase awareness among the companies and workers.

ILO research on social protection access among people living with HIV in 2018 found 35 percent of respondents are working at private sectors, it shows the evidence that people living with HIV are in workplace sectors, however they prefer to closure the HIV status due the stigma and discrimination. Several NGOs who works on HIV and trade union organizations in Indonesia recorded number of workers living with HIV got termination once the management of company know their HIV status. Moreover, HIV cases at workplace stay hidden because of the fear of HIV status disclosure and rejection among community. These similar cases are predicted to increase when the intervention is not taken comprehensively from multiple sides.

The Role of Trade Unions

Trade union organizations have significant roles in educating and protect their members on HIV prevention and related stigma and discrimination. A significant role can be taken by trade union in increasing the knowledge on HIV/AIDS among members by implementing HIV/AIDS prevention program to provide assistance of HIV prevention and a significant support on referral system of treatment. Trade union organizations also have an important role to advocate the companies through the process of collective bargaining agreement to review and update the current collective bargaining agreement with the current situation on HIV awareness and stigma and discrimination. Both management and union-side interventions, can be a stronger action on HIV/AIDS awareness education to be integrated in the company management system and policy.