ASEAN presents award for outstanding workplaces on HIV and AIDS prevention programmes

The inaugural ceremony of the first ASEAN Red Ribbon for Outstanding Workplace (ARROW) Six private companies from ASEAN Member States were awarded with the first ASEAN Red Ribbon for Outstanding Workplace (ARROW) for their remarkable initiatives to create a safe and healthy working environment through HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention programmes for their employers. The inaugural ceremony was held at the second meeting of the ASEAN Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS in Bogor for two days from 14-15 September 2016.

Michiko Miyamoto Michiko Miyamoto, Deputy Director of the ILO in Indonesia, appraised the greater involvement and commitments shown by the companies in achieving zero new-HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths in the workplace, particularly in ASEAN Member States under the VCT@Work initiative.

“The VCT@Work initiative is an essential element of the ILO’s “Getting to Zero at work” campaign, aiming to reach women and men workers with VCT. Representing the largest group of women and men living with HIV, the world of work holds a significant role in preventing HIV and responding to AIDS,” said Michiko in her presentation.

The VCT@Work initiative is an essential element of the ILO’s “Getting to Zero at work” campaign, aiming to reach women and men workers with VCT. Representing the largest group of women and men living with HIV, the world of work holds a significant role in preventing HIV and responding to AIDS."

Michiko Miyamoto, Deputy Director of the ILO in Indonesia

The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia. The award will be continue once every two years under the coordination of the ASEAN Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS (ASEAN BCA). The Coalition was established by the ASEAN Labour Ministries Meeting in 2014 to promote greater involvement of employers’ associations in ASEAN Member States in HIV and AIDS prevention and control in the workplace, and to encourage the inclusion of HIV prevention and control in the workplace into the business agenda.

The six companies received the ARROW award were the Standard Chartered Bank of Brunei Darussalam, ACLEDA Bank of Cambodia, Kaltim Prima Coal of Indonesia, Sime Darby Group of Malaysia, Maynilad Water Services Inc. of the Philippines and Microchip Technology Co. Ltd. of Thailand. They were given the ARROW trophies and certificates co-signed by the Minister of Manpower, Hanif Dhakiri and the Secretary General of ASEAN, Le Luong Minh.

The meeting was concluded with the handing over of the ASEAN BCA Coordinator from Indonesia (2014-2016) to Malaysia (2016-2018).

An estimated 34 million people are living with HIV (UNAIDS, 2010) globally. Most of them are within the productive age bracket (15-49 years old) and workplace is where the majority of those affected by the epidemic spend their time. Therefore, it is hoped that after knowing their status, workers who test positive will be able to access HIV care and lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, enabling them to live healthy, productive lives.