The main objective of this webinar, which is
supported by the United Nations COVID-19 Response and Recovery Multi
Partner Trust Fund (UN COVID-19 MPTF), is to promote the elimination of
discrimination against PLHIV at the workplace.
Background
Through effective public health measures, HIV is
preventable much like other diseases. With thanks to scientific
advances, the world is more equipped to prevent HIV infections and
people living with HIV (PLHIV) are able to live a healthy and productive
life by adhering to life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Progress
have been made since 2001 with a 54% reduction in AIDS-related deaths
and a 37% reduction in HIV infections globally.1 And of the 38 million
people living with HIV, 26 million were accessing ART as of June 2020,
increasing their chance to live a healthy life.2
Globally,
HIV/AIDS are concentrated in the most productive age group (15-49
years). This has also been the case for Indonesia, where it is estimated
that there are 543.100 PLHIV and 512.956 of them are of productive age.
Unemployment levels are also higher for PLHIV than non-PLHIV due to ill
health and discrimination. According to a study by UNDP in 2011,
unemployment rates of PLHIV compared to non-PLHIV in Indonesia by sexes
were 22% and 20% respectively among males, and 16% and 11% among
females.3 The government of Indonesia, through the issuance of KEP.
68/MEN/IV/2004 on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in the Workplace,
emphasized that companies have an obligation to develop policies on
HIV/AIDS prevention and control in the workplace, including protecting
workers with HIV/AIDS from discriminatory treatment.
PLHIV
experience stigma and discrimination in all spectrum of the world of
work, as jobseekers and applicants, and as workers. Stigma and
discrimination against PLHIV at the workplace setting may have been
caused by the lack of awareness and information regarding HIV among
Discrimination against PLHIV have taken the forms of, among others,
denial of access to a job or occupation due to HIV status, mandatory HIV
testing during recruitment process and/or as part of the annual health
test package, and disclosure of HIV status without consent. These
practices are against the global guideline on HIV testing services,
which the government of Indonesia has adopted through the Decree of the
Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No.
HK.01.07/MENKES/90/2019 on National Guidelines for HIV Procedures. HIV
testing must be done voluntarily and uphold the 5C principles of
consent, confidentiality, counselling, correct test result, and
connection to treatment.
Moreover, HIV status alone should not
be a ground to determine fitness or unfitness for work. With ARV
treatment, PLHIV can live a healthy and productive lives just like other
people. And adherence to treatment results in viral loads suppression
which prevents the spread of HIV. With a huge proportion of PLHIV in
productive age in Indonesia, workplace becomes an important setting for
HIV prevention and comprehensive response, including the elimination of
stigmatizing and discriminative practices against people living with
HIV.
To that end, UNAIDS and ILO are intending to hold a
webinar with the theme of “Eliminating Discrimination Against People
Living with HIV (PLHIV) at the Workplace”. This webinar is supported by
the United Nations COVID-19 Response and Recovery Multi Partner Trust
Fund (UN COVID-19 MPTF). A project that aims for the recovery and
improvement of economy and livelihood of vulnerable groups of people who
are most affected by the pandemic, including women, youth, refugees,
migrant workers, people living with HIV, key populations most vulnerable
to HIV and people living in disadvantaged regions.
Objectives
The main objective of this webinar is to promote the elimination of
discrimination against PLHIV at the workplace. Additionally, this event
is also aiming at the following things:
- Creating a
discussion platform to share experience, knowledge, and ideas related to
the efforts to eliminate discrimination against PLHIV at the workplace.
- Increasing
support from relevant stakeholders for the elimination of
discrimination against PLHIV at the workplace, and promote the creation
of an inclusive job market.
- Strengthening cross-sector collaboration related to the efforts to eliminate discrimination against PLHIV at the workplace.