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HIV/AIDS Prevention in the World of Work in Sri Lanka

Project Number	SRL/04/51M/USA
Government Counterpart	Ministry of Labour Relations & Manpower
Partners / Donors	United States Department of Labour
Total Project Budget	US $420,000
Location (State and District)	Selected workplaces in Sri Lanka
Duration	May 2005 to December 2008
Sector(s)	Selected workplaces in agriculture, Hospitality and Manufacture sectors
UNDAF/MDGs	MDG 6
Contacts	Dr. Indira Hettiarachchi National Project Coordinator Tel + 94 11 2590296/7

Background
Sri Lanka has an estimated 4500 people living with HIV/AIDS with a prevalence of <0.1%. The actual prevalence may be higher and the number of new infections ahs shown an increasing trend. Although the HIV prevalence is low the vulnerability to an escalation of the incidence of HIV infection is high due to factors such as; large youth population, internal & external migration, growing commercial sex industry, tourism, increase in sexually transmitted infections, low levels of condom use, drug use, the presence of military in conflict affected areas, displacement of people due to conflict etc. The seriousness of HIV/AIDS risk to the world of work is evident from the fact that 90 % of infections have been reported from 20-49 years of age group, the economically most productive segment

Objectives
The project aims to contribute to the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the world of work, the enhancement of workplace protection and the reduction of its adverse consequences on social, labour, and economic development.

The development objectives of the project are:

Development Objective 1
Reduced level of employment-related discrimination against persons living
With HIV/AIDS; and

Development Objective 2
Reduced HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among targeted workers.

Project Strategy
The project strategy has two clear components;
- a tailor made behaviour change communication (BCC) programme that is being put into operation as a pilot project in 13 workplaces which include 5 hotels, 4 estates and 4 manufacture sector factories.
- capacity building of tripartite constituents to address HIV/AIDS at national level.

Key Project Achievements
• National Tripartite Declaration on Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Workplaces
The tripartite constituents developed a National Tripartite Declaration and 18 signatories from the Government, Employers Organisations and Trade Unions signed the Declaration on the 3rd April 2007.

• Joint Trade Union Policy for Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Workplaces
Twenty two Trade Unions from the public and the private sector signed the Policy on the 29th January 2008 and participated in a media briefing with twelve media personnel.

• Workplace HIV/AIDS Policies
Eleven of the 13 enterprises have adopted Workplace HIV/AIDS Policies and all the enterprises are implementing behaviour change communication programmes in the enterprises.

• Integration of HIV/AIDS Prevention in the World of Work in the draft National AIDS Policy & The National Strategic Plan
Prevention of HIV/AIDS in the world of work was included in the draft National AIDS Policy and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy from 2007-2011

• Communication Material
Education and communication materials developed include;
- A Trainer’s Guide and a Tool Kit
- Peer Educator’s Guide & a Tool Kit
- Six posters
- Two brochures
- Two Booklets for migrant workers ( male & female )
- A Pocket calendar

• Training for Peer Educators
Two hundred and sixty two Peer Educators have been trained in 14 workplaces to implement BCC programmes

• Training of Trainers
- Seventy two (72)Trainers were trained for private sector enterprises
- Hundred and one (101) Trainers Trained for the Department of Labour
- Twenty four Trainers (24) for the Board of Investment to integrate HIV/AIDS in Training programmes
- Thirty five ( 35) Trade Union members were trained from two Trade Unions

• Capacity Building of Tripartite Constituents

Department of Labour
Labour Commissioners and Assistant District Labour Commissioners have been sensitised on HIV/AIDS and workplace issues. Hundred and one (101) Labour Officers & Human Resource Development Officers were trained as trainers to integrate HIV/AIDS education programmes in workplaces at district level.

Employers’ Organisations
Capacity of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has being strengthened to integrate HIV/AIDS in their activities with enterprises and corporates. The EFC has integrated modules on HIV/AIDS in three of their Certificate training programmes and regularly include updates on HIV/AIDS in their newsletters. The CCC has a CSR committee on HIV/AIDS Prevention

Trade Unions
Leaders, representatives and members of four leading Trade Unions have been sensitised on HIV/AIDS. Trainers were trained for two Trade Unions. The National Workers Congress implemented a pilot project to create awareness and change risky behaviours among 600 domestic workers and 600 Free Trade Zone workers.

• Building Capacity of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVs)
Capacity building programmes on peer leadership and communication skills development were conducted for PLHIVs and assistance was provided for resource mobilisation.

• Sensitising the Media
ILO and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Manpower conducted a Media Seminar in 2007 to educate journalists and other media personnel on responsible reporting on HIV/AIDS.

• Facilitated the establishment of the Sri Lanka Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS
In August 2007 the Standard Charted Bank, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Employers’ Federation of Ceylon and the ILO and other business leaders joined in launching the Sri Lanka Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS.

• Integrating HIV/AIDS in ILO ongoing projects
HIV/AIDS education was integrated in ILO projects such as the Factory Improvement Programme (FIP), Start and Improve Your Business, Jobs net and the Gender sensitization programme. Through the FIP project capacity was enhanced in 10 garment sector factories to implement HIV/AIDS workplace education programmes.

• Developing the Sustainability Plan
The project is due to end in December 2008 and in preparation for a smooth transition of project activities to the national stake holders the project partners have developed a Sustainability Plan.