The ILO, in consultation with its Indian tripartite constituents and the Indian Government's National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), has developed a three-phased project in India, aimed at establishing a sustainable national action on HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support in the world of work, "Prevention of HIV/AIDS in the world of work - A Tripartite response".

The first phase of the project, implemented with financial support from the US Department of Labor (USDOL), aimed at mobilizing the ILO's tripartite partners (government, employers' and workers' organizations) and developing a Plan of Action for the second phase. Phase I was implemented from June 2001 till the end of 2002.

The project is now in Phase II, a three year implementation phase from January 2003 to December 2005, also supported by USDOL. The project provides technical assistance to world of work agencies in order to help them integrate HIV/AIDS in their programmes, and has selected three states for demonstrating a tripartite action against HIV/AIDS in India. The selected states are Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. Based on rapid assessment surveys and consultations with the stakeholders, the project has reached agreement with 55 companies to launch enterprise-level interventions covering more than 100,000 workers.

The ILO project recently released a study, "Assessing the Socio-economic Impact of HIV/AIDS on People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and their families in India", undertaken by networks of PLWHAs with support from the ILO across four states in India, the study points to growing economic hardships.

According to the study, household incomes of HIV/AIDS sufferers are depleted by one third, while average monthly expenditure on food and treatment increases substantially. As a result of reduced income and increased expenditure, these households have to compromise on their children's education. Nearly 38 per cent of respondents reported being forced to withdraw children from school and sending them to work.

Many HIV positive persons depend on the income from a regular job. But prevailing stigma and discrimination at the workplace complicate the matter, the study says, reporting that many PLWHA do not disclose their status to employers for fear of losing their jobs.

Trade unions are taking concerted action to include HIV/AIDS in their programmes. According to R.A. Milttal, Secretary of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha union, "trade unions have understood that HIV/AIDS is affecting workers badly, and that it is the responsibility of trade unions to protect workers". The union has recently set up a Task Force to develop a policy and programme for unions on HIV/AIDS. The ILO and the National Labour Institute (NLI) have developed a training manual for trade unions and conducted training programmes for trade unionists and government officials.

As part of efforts to mainstream HIV/AIDS in the Ministry of Labour, the ILO is also collaborating with NLI and the Central Board for Workers Education (CBWE). A specific training manual has been developed to assist CBWE officers to conduct training courses and to integrate HIV/AIDS within the workers' education programme. In 2003, this programme provided training to a total of 210,028 workers - of which 89,819 were men and 120,209 women.

Raising awareness about HIV/AIDS is a vital component in tackling the epidemic. The ILO project has produced an advocacy and training package for use by employers and trade unions. Simultaneously, it is working to promote the principles contained in the ILO Code of practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work.

For further information on the ILO's project please visit www.ilo.org/public/english/region/asro/newdelhi/aids/index.htm.