Reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination at workplace through training for labour inspectors

The Training of Trainers for hygiene inspectors representing regional hygiene units of the State Labour Service of Ukraine was conducted on 5-6 October 2016 in Kyiv within the framework of the ILO Project “Reducing HIV Stigma and Discrimination to Protect Working Women and Men from Unacceptable Forms of Work in Ukraine”. The project is implemented in Ukraine with financial support of Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The training was designed to equip the participants with skills and knowledge necessary to implement awareness-raising as well as to provide training activities in workplaces during their inspection visits and to provide advisory services to employers and workers.

The agenda of the training emphasized the importance of fundamental labour rights and was based on the ILO Handbook on HIV and AIDS for Labour Inspectors. The handbook, translated and printed in Ukrainian, includes not only general information on HIV and ways of transmission but also such issues as occupational exposure to HIV, gender and HIV and HIV workplace policies and programmes.

The training was opened by Mr. Roman Chernega, Head of the State Labour Service who thanked the ILO for its support to the Service and emphasized the particular preventive role of labour inspectors in addressing HIV stigma and discrimination as violation of labour rights of working women and men.

Ms. Ingrid Sipi-Johnson, ILO HIV and AIDS Specialist presented the ILO Recommendation concerning HIV and AIDS and the World of Work, 2010 (No. 200), promoted the Global ILO/UNAIDS VCT@WORK Initiative and shared best practices and highlights from ILO activities carried out between 2013-2015 in 34 countries, including Ukraine.

The trainers’ team consisted of a doctor and occupational safety and health expert of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine Mr. Vitaliy Legkov and a psychologist and expert on prevention of HIV, alcohol and drug abuse Ms. Ksenia Lepekha.

Participants also received certificates of attendance. As a follow-up to the training, participants are expected to organize awareness-raising and training activities at their workplaces while their feed-back will be collected and evaluated.