Launched, the good practice video on trade unions’ actions to prevent HIV at workplace

The ILO recently launched a new good practice video highlighting the important roles of trade unions in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS at the workplace.

News | Jakarta, Indonesia | 08 October 2021
Launched on 5 October, the video underlines three main roles of trade unions to encourage the formation of a non-discriminatory policy in the workplace; to support educational programmes and ensure the availability of HIV services in the company; and to increase awareness and understanding of its members to promote equal rights and treatment.



Under the title “Trade Unions as the Spearhead of HIV Prevention and Control at the Workplaces, the video documents the activities taken by three trade unions confederations: The Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Union (KSPSI-AITUC), the Confederation of National Trade Union (KSPN) and the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Union (KSPSI). These confederations have integrated the HIV prevention programme at workplace as part of their key activities to promote workplaces that promote equal rights and treatment.

Considering that 68 percent of new HIV cases are found in non-key population has positioned trade unions in an important role to prevent and control HIV/AIDS in the world of work."

Early D. Nuriana, ILO’s programme officer for HIV prevention at workplace
The video captures activities taken by KSPSI-AITUC to promote HIV educational programmes and the availability of HIV services for seafarers and port workers at Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang, Central Java. Through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Non-Discriminatory Policy, KSPSI-AITUC together with the authority of Tanjung Emas Port, the Indonesian National Shipowner Association (INSA) and the Ship Crew Cooperative has promoted the implementation of VCT@Work work and referral programmes in the maritime sector. The VCT@Work service was provided to ship crews with a technical support from the Semarang Health Office and Kalandara Foundation in Semarang.

Meanwhile, KSPN has focused its activities at the company level through a bipartite cooperation with the management of PT Park World Indonesia 2 (PT PWI 2) in Serang, Banten. Employed around 10,000 workers with the majority of them are women, the management of PT PWI 2 and KSPN signed the company’s commitment to establish and implement a non-discriminatory policy. Under this policy, both management and trade union would work hand-in-hand to provide educational programme, HIV services and referral treatments for all of the workers.

Understanding the importance of internal strength, KSPSI has integrated HIV knowledge and prevention programme to its members’ empowerment programme, particularly to its women empowerment programme. The empowerment programme has been able to strengthen its members’ capacity and encourage its women members to speak out about issues related to violence and harassment at workplace.

Early D. Nuriana, ILO’s programme officer for HIV prevention at workplace, said that trade unions have power and potential to contribute in the prevention and protection of workers from HIV transmission at all levels—company, organization and community. “Considering that 68 percent of new HIV cases are found in non-key population has positioned trade unions in an important role to prevent and control HIV/AIDS in the world of work,” she concluded.