Employers need to take serious and immediate steps to introduce policies at the workplace with regard to HIV/AIDS.
Employers need to take serious and immediate steps to introduce policies at the workplace with regard to HIV/AIDS , especially for women employees, representatives from various sectors said at a workshop today.
Respresentatives of trade unions, human rights organisations, universities, businesses and various NGOs who participated in a workshop on 'HIV/AIDS -- A Workplace Issue: Areas of Intervention' here, outlined the steps needed to frame effective HIV/AIDS policies in offices.The participants underscored the importance of providing information on HIV/AIDS and having workplace policies and control programmes in place to allay the misconceptions and fears of employees.
"The awareness of HIV/AIDS is the first step in combatting the pandemic. Effective workplace policies should be devised to allay the fears of the employees," Dr Peeyush Jain, former Joint Director of Delhi State AIDS Control Society, said.
"At no cost should HIV infection become any source of discrimination in offices," National Program Coordinator of ILO, Dr Mohammad Afsar said at the workshop jointly organised by US Embassy and an NGO with support from USAID AND Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
A preview of the film, 'HIV/AIDS is serious business', that showcases many workplace programmes being carried out in Maharashtra was also screened during the day-long workshop.
Source:PTI News
