Trade unions support the inclusion of HIV related issues into collective bargaining agreements

Trade union organizations have significant roles in the implementation of HIV prevention programmes and in the elimination of stigma and discrimination against HIV. To build the capacity of the trade unions and to promote the inclusion of HIV related issues in the enterprises’ collective bargaining agreements, the ILO organized a two-day Training of Collective Bargaining Skills on Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS Policies into Collective Bargaining Agreements in Bogor, West Java in June.

The training was followed by 32 trade unionists from key trade union confederations in Indonesia. During the training, the participating trade unionists were actively involved in finding solutions and providing better protection to their members related to HIV/AIDS issues.

t is important to increase the number of committed enterprises in implementing HIV prevention programmes at the workplaces. These commitment will in turn eliminate stigma and discrimination against HIV, reduce workers’ high-risk behaviors and improve care and treatment programme."

Made Dwi Sukamti, a representative from Provincial Manpower Office of DKI Jakarta

One of the case studies that the participants were assigned to find solutions and ways to better protect their members was the case about workers’ job termination due to HIV and AIDS. Taken from the real cases, the participants examined and discussed win-win solutions for both workers and employers based on existing regulations related to HIV at the workplace.

In addition to the case studies, the training presented the best practice on the inclusion of non-discriminatory policy and access to HIV prevention, treatment and care in the collective bargaining agreement from PT Pertamina. “The best practice from PT Pertamina which has successfully integrated HIV related issues in the collective bargaining agreement can be used by trade unions organizations as an inspiration when developing their collective bargaining agreements with the management,” said Early D. Nuriana, the ILO’s national coordinator for HIV/AIDS.

The best practice from PT Pertamina which has successfully integrated HIV related issues in the collective bargaining agreement can be used by trade unions organizations as an inspiration when developing their collective bargaining agreements with the management."

Early D. Nuriana, the ILO’s national coordinator for HIV/AIDS

Made Dwi Sukamti, a representative from Provincial Manpower Office of DKI Jakarta, underscored the importance of inclusion of HIV related issues in the collective bargaining agreements. “It is important to increase the number of committed enterprises in implementing HIV prevention programmes at the workplaces. These commitment will in turn eliminate stigma and discrimination against HIV, reduce workers’ high-risk behaviors and improve care and treatment programme,” she said.

Facilitated by the ILO's officer in charge of industrial relations, Lusiani Julia, the training ended with the development of workplans from the participating trade unions. The workplan covered actions that would be taken by trade unions to raise the managements’ awareness about the importance of HIV related issues and to negotiate the inclusion of non-discriminatory policy as well as the HIV prevention programme in the collective bargaining agreements.