Globally there are an estimated 37 million people who are living with HIV, the majority of them of working age. Over 35 million people have died of AIDS related illnesses, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

The recent UNAIDS report – Get on the Fast-Track: The life cycle approach to HIV – raises optimism as well as concerns. While 18.2 million people now have access to HIV treatment, there has been no reduction in the number of new HIV infections among adults in the past five years. And new infections are rising in some regions of the world.

Taking a “Life cycle approach to HIV” is essential.

Most people are in the world of work for a large part of their life. The world of work can play a critical role in many aspects of the AIDS response: reducing discrimination and ensuring that people are not denied the right to work; enhancing access to HIV information; facilitating access to HIV testing and treatment; and expanding the coverage of social protection.

The ILO continues to build on its past efforts to contribute to the goal of zero AIDS-discrimination. The Political Declaration on Ending AIDS recognizes the importance of workplace initiatives. It highlights the role of employers, unions and governments in protecting workers from discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS, in line with the ILO Recommendation on HIV and AIDS and the World of Work, 2010 (No. 200).

Expanding HIV testing continues to be a major challenge, but using the world of work as a strategic entry point has proven effective. The ILO’s VCT@WORK initiative promoting voluntary counselling and testing for workers is showing very encouraging results. Between July 2013 and December 2015, we were able to reach close to five million workers, test three million and refer over 85,000 to treatment. This initiative is showing what can be done and we hope that this experience will be taken on board and scaled up in workplaces everywhere.

Evidence points indisputably to the important intersection of HIV and gender inequality. In 2015, around 7,500 young women became newly infected with HIV every week. The AIDS response has to be gender responsive, addressing harmful traditional norms and practices as well as inequalities.

When women and girls are economically empowered, they have the means to protect themselves from becoming infected with HIV and to access HIV services. The ILO has demonstrated these benefits in a programme in six African countries implemented along the transport corridors.

The ILO guide on Promoting diversity and inclusion through workplace adjustments offers employers practical ideas on how to provide reasonable accommodation to workers living with HIV, among others.

AIDS is not over. With the finish line in sight, we need to keep our foot on the accelerator and reinforce the role of the world of work as a strategic stage in the life cycle approach to HIV.