A Series of Virtual National Public Dialogues on HIV/AIDS and OSH at Workplace during COVID-19 Pandemic

These series of webinars aim to increase the awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention programmes at the workplace during COVID-19 Pandemic and to strengthen commitments of the tripartite constituents to the implementation National OSH Road Map 2021-2025.

Background

There were an estimated 640,443 persons living with HIV (PLHIV) in Indonesia, however Ministry of Health detected 511.955 cases or 79, 94% and there are 128.499 people (living with HIV undetected. The numbers of PLHIV are the highest in Jakarta and in the highly populated provinces of Java, as well as in Papua and West Papua. In general, the demographic data of MoH shows the majority of PLHIV are in productive ages (25-44 years old) in between 50,45%-74% and specifically among young people (20-24 years old) in between 14,3%-24,08%. (MoH - IBBS Report 2018-2019, launched in 2020).

The 68/2004 of Manpower Ministerial Decree on HIV/AIDS Prevention at the Workplaces that stated on HIV/AIDS integration into OSH program and the 44/2005 Manpower OSH Norms Directorate General Decree on Aids Care Awards for Company through OSH program are the main basis of HIV/AIDS prevention at Workplace in Indonesia including the ILO recommendation 200. These both regulation contribute to the number of companies that implement HIV/AIDS prevention at workplace.

As MoM reported in 2020, the number of companies that implement HIV/AIDS prevention at workplace has been increasing from 170 companies in 2018 into 233 companies in 2019. It is a good progress, however if it is compared with the total number of companies in Indonesia, it is still a challenge. The access of HIV/AIDS services that linked with companies and stigma and discrimination on HIV/AIDS among PLHIV remains limited. More over, the the rate of lost to follow up on ARV access among people living with HIV is high due to various factors such as stigma and less support for PLHIV who has been not intensively close with ARV community support or any other support groups. It shows that the linkage and involvement of workplace sector and HIV/AIDS support group on accessing VCT and ARV treatment is still lacking that it affects to the number of targeted high risk men, including the young people.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges of HIV/AIDS implementation at workplace are even harder. Two out of three companies are closed both temporarily and permanently in Indonesia (ILO Research, Score, 2020). Due to the Government Policy on the Large Scale limitation of Social Distancing to control the spread of COVID-19, mostly the big cities and industrial cities, the companies focus on surviving the business continuity by applying the strict protocols on OSH to tackle the spread of COVID-19 pandemic such as rearranging the working method such as limiting number of workers in a direct social interaction, working from home, etc.

Based on the current challenges, ILO plans to collaborate with OSH Council and Ministry of Manpower on improving the awareness HIV/AIDS prevention and services at workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic by managing 8 series of national virtual public dialogues with various topics that related on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) issues. 

Objectives

  1. Promoting OSH-HIV/AIDS Awareness during COVID-19 pandemic. 
  2. Strengthening the Ministry of Manpower Commitment on Implementation of HIV/AIDS Prevention during COVID-19 pandemic through the National OSH Road Map.