ILO Approves International Labour Standards for HIV/AIDS

July 10th, 2010

On 17 June 2010, the International Labour Organization (ILO) voted in favour of a new standard designed to tackle workplace discrimination of HIV/AIDS sufferers. The non-binding ‘Recommendation concerning HIV and AIDS and the world of work’ urges countries to set up AIDS prevention programmes in places of work and to support sufferers to enable them to continue to work for as long as possible. The standard does not require ratification and it will be up to the ILO’s 183 member states to decide how to implement the recommendations into national legislation.

The final recommendation, which was passed by 439 votes to 4, comes after two years of discussions. It is the first internationally-sanctioned labour standard focused specifically on HIV in the workplace and builds on the ILO’s 2001 Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work, which gives guidance on how to approach the issue of HIV/AIDS and employment. The main principles of the recommendation address discrimination and engagement with employees on HIV/AIDS issues. Specific measures recommended by the ILO include: workplace education initiatives to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS; confidential and voluntary testing facilities; and access to treatment and support.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has welcomed the new standard. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, said: “The new ILO standard will bring us one step closer to our goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.”

HIV/AIDS continues to be a significant global problem. According to UNAIDS’s 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, more than two million people were estimated to have died from AIDS in 2007 and there were approximately 33 million people living with HIV. The risk from HIV/AIDS is particularly serious in Africa. This is demonstrated by Maplecroft’s HIV/AIDS Index, in which all of the 25 highest ranked countries are African, including Mozambique (1st), Zambia (2nd), Zimbabwe (3rd), Malawi (4th) and Kenya (5th).

Businesses should be aware of the risk of HIV/AIDS, particularly if operating in a country where it is particularly prevalent. The new ILO labour standard presents an opportunity for companies to pre-empt national decision-making and to adopt the recommended principles. This will not only benefit employees that suffer from HIV/AIDS but may also enable the company to build a reputation as a responsible employer. Furthermore, businesses stand to gain financially in the long term from healthier employees and workforce continuity.