HIV and AIDS in the workplace

>HIV/AIDS affects millions of South Africans from all walks of life, including people in the workplace.

There are a number of laws and guidelines relating to people who have HIV/AIDS in the workplace.

The most important of these is that an HIV positive employee has the same rights and duties as other employees.  They cannot be treated differently to other employees by employers or by co-workers.

An employee cannot be fired, retrenched or refused a job simply because they are HIV positive.

HIV positive employees are also entitled to the same training, development and promotion opportunities as any other employee.

No employer can require that a job applicant have an HIV test before they are employed

There is a small risk that HIV can be transmitted accidentally through contact with infectd blood.

It is important:

• that all blood is treated as possibly infected
  
• that first aid kits which include protective golves and other devices are available in the workplace
  
• that employees are trained to prevent HIV transmission when helping an injured person
  

There are many positive steps employers can employees can take to deal with the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  These include:

• developing a workplace policy on HIV/AIDS
• negotiating benefits such as medical aid, insurance, retirement benefits and disability cover in the interests of all employees.
• developing a workplace programme that includes awareness campaigns, condom distribution, treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and care for HIV-positive staff memebers.

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