ILO's Tripartite Action on HIV/AIDS in India

Approximately 90% HIV infections in India are reported from the most productive 15-49 age group. This highlights the need for strengthening efforts to protect some 400 million workers in India from the HIV infection. Strengthening HIV/AIDS policy and programmes in the world of work is one of the key prevention strategies of the National AIDS Control Programme.

The ILO, in consultation with its Indian tripartite constituents and the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), has developed a three-phased programme, aimed at establishing a sustainable national action on HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support in the world of work. Within the UN system, ILO is the lead technical agency for workplace policy and programmes.

Having successfully executed the first phase of the project, with financial support from the US Department of Labor (USDOL), the ILO Project is now in the second phase of implementation, with support from the USDOL and USAID-India. 

Notable features of the ILO-India HIV/AIDS Project:

• Promoting the adoption of the ILO code of practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work for an improved policy framework;
• Guidance to the project by a high level Project Management Team, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Labour & Employment (MOL&E)-Government of India, NACO, employers' and workers' organizations, VV Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), PLHIV and ILO;
• Technical support to partners for strengthening Workplace Interventions (WPI): Policy advice based o the ILO Code; support for training and communication materials, research and evaluation;
• Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS within the MOL&E, Employers’ organizations and Trade unions.
• Collaboration with networks of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) for workplace advocacy, increased access to treatment/livelihood support for PLHIV and reduction of HIV related stigma and discrimination;
• Research to gather evidence for advocacy and documentation of good practices on WPI;
• Strengthening capacity of NACO/SACS for WPI & developing models of public-private partnerships in HIV prevention and care;
• Strengthening Private sector/corporate response to HIV/AIDS;
• Technical Assistance to the USG partners for WPI in India.