This document provides information on managing HIV/AIDS in the workplace. It discusses the context and impact of HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago, noting key statistics. The importance of developing workplace policies and programs to address HIV/AIDS is emphasized. Key principles of the national workplace policy on HIV/AIDS are outlined. Lessons from business experience on effective and ineffective approaches are shared. Steps for developing and implementing a workplace policy are presented. Finally, the role of the National HIV/AIDS Workplace Advocacy and Sustainability Centre in assisting with these efforts is described.

1. MANAGING HIV AND AIDS IN THE
WORKPLACE
Presentation by : Salim October
Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development
National HIV/AIDS Workplace Advocacy and Sustainability Centre
NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH WEEK 2013

2. Thank You…….
Any Questions?

3. To Effectively Manage HIV and AIDS in our Workplace we
need to address the:
 What?
 Why?
 How?
 When?
Of the Epidemic and its impact.

4.  The first case of HIV in Trinidad and Tobago was reported in 1983. (NSU)
 23,906 recorded cases of people who tested positive for HIV in T&T.
 4041 cases have resulted in AIDS related deaths.
 2007 to 2011 statistics revealed that the HIV and AIDS epidemic was
concentrated in the 25-49 age group, (65.0% of new infections occur).
 2010 – 2011 saw increase in new infections among the older population
(above age 49 yrs) which accounted for 14% of new infections
 For 1992-2002 the ILO placed an average annual GDP loss attributed to
HIV and AIDS globally at US$45 million and the total loss of workers as a
proportion of the total labour force, were projected to be 4.7% by 2015.
 US$1500-US$1800 (TT$9400-TT$11200): the global average monthly cost
to treat someone living with HIV.
What is the context?

5. Why….do we need to manage HIV and AIDS in
our Workplaces?
 Is there a cost to a business to respond to
the impact/implications of the epidemic?
 Is there a cost to a business failing to
respond to the impact/implications of the
epidemic?

6. Increased
Absenteeism
Increased
Staff
Turnover
Loss of
Skill
Loss of
Institutional
Memory
Declining
Morale
Increased Cost Declining Profits Declining Productivity
Possible Cost
Implications
Possible Impact on profits and productivity:
Insurance Cover Declining foreign and re-investment
Retirement Funds Declining markets, labour pool and suppliers
Health and Safety Increased demands for training and recruitment
Medical Assistance Declining intellectual capital (internal processes)
Funeral Cost Declining reliability
Source: Adapted from The business response to HIV/AIDS: impact and lessons learned (2000)

7. How then do we manage HIV and AIDS in our
Workplaces?
Development of HIV and AIDS Workplace
Policies and Programmes!

8. The Trinidad and Tobago National Workplace Policy on
HIV and AIDS
 The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago
 Employers and their representatives
 Workers and their representatives
 Occupational Health Personnel and other
specialists
 All other relevant stakeholders
consists of ten (10) Key Principles that are to
be used as a framework for the HIV-related
Workplace Action (Tripartite Plus Communities):

9. What does a workplace policy on HIV and AIDS
aim to accomplish?
It
 Commits the workplace to action
 Defines the rights of all workers
 Highlights benefits to employers
 Guides managers, workers and their representatives on
addressing HIV and AIDS in the workplace
 It provides managers, workers and their representatives with
information on where to access care, treatment and support
services
 Establishes consistency within the organization in dealing with
HIV-related issues
 Can lead to increased staff confidence and loyalty contingent
upon ―employer cares‖ = ―increased productivity‖

11. Key Principles of the National HIV & AIDS
Workplace Policy
 Consideration of HIV and AIDS as a Workplace Issue
 Non-Discrimination
 Gender Equality
 Healthy Work Environment
 Social Dialogue
 No Screening for Purposes of Employment
 Confidentiality
 Continuing Employment
 Prevention
 Care and Support

12. Lessons from Business Experience
What works at the level of company
leadership:
 Openness about HIV & AIDS (all levels)
 Support for responsible sexual behavior
 Support for appropriate policies to address
HIV & AIDS-related situations that may
arise in the workplace
 Moral, financial and resource commitment
to sustain programs .

13. Lessons from Business Experience
What works in HIV & AIDS Programmes:
 Clear, non-technical information about HIV
& AIDS for all employees
 Peer education and peer support
(behaviour change)
 Encouraging workers to use available
services
 Voluntary and confidential HIV testing and
pre- and post-test counseling.

14. Lessons from Business Experience
What does not work:
 Ignoring the disease and hoping it will
simply go away
 Assuming that HIV/AIDS affects only a
certain class or group of people—that it is
someone else’s problem
 Assuming that infection is due to sinful or
immoral behavior

15. Lessons from Business Experience
What does not work continued:
 Infrequent prevention activities
 Initiating an HIV/AIDS prevention program
well after the disease is established in the
population, then trying to catch up;
 Assuming that prevention programs are
too expensive.
 Assuming that the more ―matured‖ work
force is not at risk

16. Step 1:
Establish
a policy
task team
Step 2:
Draft the
Policy
Step 3:
Consult
and
Negotiate
Step 4:
Finalize
the
Policy
Step 5:
Implement
the Policy
Step 6:
Monitor
the Policy
Action Steps towards Policy development
and implementation
Now is the time for us
to journey together

17. The National HIV/AIDS Workplace
Advocacy and
Sustainability Centre (HASC)
Who can help you on such a
journey?

18. What is the HASC and its mandate?
The HASC is a unit in the Ministry of Labour and
Small and Micro Enterprise Development and was
established by Cabinet in 2009 to mount a strategic
response to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS in
the world of work.
The HASC sensitises workers and employers in the
public and private sectors and the informal economy
on the need for policies and programmes that
address HIV and AIDS as a workplace issue, whilst
supporting the implementation of the National

19. What are the services we offer?
 Assist the development or revision of HIV
and AIDS workplaces policies and
programmes.
 Conduct sensitization sessions with
employers/employees on the core principles
 Conduct training to support policy
implementation
 Establish links to HIV related services.

20. please do follow up with me directly at:
Email: octobers@gov.tt
Office: 299-0300 ext 2170
Cell: 382-2873