Principle 10 of the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work:

Solidarity, care and support should guide … occupational schemes.

KEY POINTS

• • The right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is recognized by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other various other international instruments.


• • Access to care and treatment also contributes to the prevention of HIV infection. Care provision encourages confidential voluntary counselling and testing (VCT). It offers an opportunity to discuss with the infected person how she or he might prevent the risk of further transmission.


• • By caring openly and compassionately for persons infected with HIV, caregivers alleviate the community's fear of HIV infection and reduce stigma and discrimination.


• • There are social and economic benefits of care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. When people are helped to stay at work and live longer, then sickness, suffering, impacts on production and loss of income are postponed.


• • Comprehensive care and support should meet the needs of workers with HIV/AIDS for treatment, for material and psychosocial support, and for protection against discrimination and rejection. It should ideally include:

-	health care services and appropriate treatment of HIV and related infections;
-	confidential voluntary testing and counselling (VCT), as an important starting point for both prevention and care;
-	an open, accepting and supportive environment for workers who disclose their HIV status, and legal provisions against discrimination;
-	psychosocial support and counselling of individuals tested HIV-positive, and their families;
-	reasonable accommodation - making changes to tasks, the workplace or working conditions (including hours and breaks) so that workers with HIV can continue in their jobs;
-	family planning services;
-	healthy living programmes, including information at least and nutritional supplements where possible;
-	financial support, training or employment opportunities for persons who lose employment because of HIV status, and for family members;
-	social protection, including access to benefits provided by the State and/or the employer;
-	information and training for home-based caregivers;
-	care and support for family members after the death of the primary breadwinner.




> Go to step 8

Workplace programme of prevention and care are unlikely to be successful if the workplace hasn't established an atmosphere of trust and 'zero tolerance' for discrimination.

Further information:



• Publications on care