1. THE ILO and HIV/AIDS A
DIA Insa Ben Said
Turin 02/09/2005

2. OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION
HIV/AIDS and the World of Work
The ILO Global Programme on HIV/AIDS and the world of work
ILO code of practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work
Implementing the ILO code of practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work
Technical cooperation: Field activities
Collaboration with other UN agencies

3. 1. IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS ON LABOUR AND SOCIAL PROGRESS
Effects of HIV/AIDS on labour:
A mass killer affecting the most segment of the labour force,
Reduces productivity and output level in all sectors,
Discrimination and stigma aimed at PLWA at the workplace,
Exacerbates the problem of child labour and poverty,
Increases gender inequality,
Overtaxes the social systems ,
Undermines private sector and enterprise development,
Stifles economic development.

4. 2. HIV/AIDS : A THREAT TO DECENT WORK AND ILO STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
Threat to the primary goal of ILO:
«To provide opportunities for women and men to obtain
decent and productive work in conditions of freedom,
equity security and human dignity »
Threat to ILO ‘s legitimate and essential concerns in
each of the strategic objectives of the Organization:
Workers' rights
Employment promotion
Social protection
Social dialogue

5. 3. HIV/AIDS AND FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AT WORK
AIDS affect fundamental rights at work and in society as
a whole. Discrimination on the basis of HIVAIDS
worsens existing inequalities in society.
AIDS-related discrimination may include screening for
purposes of exclusion from work or promotion or
breaches of confidentialities.
The fundamental rights of non–discrimination is a
core principle of the ILO which can be used to protect
the rights and dignity of workers and their families
from violation based on their known or presumed HIV
status.

6. 4. THE ILO RESPONSE AND COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES
ILO promotes a right-based approach to combat the impact of HIV/AIDS on the world of work.
The rights of non–discrimination lies at the heart of the concern of ILO for the abuse of human rights in the area of HIV/AIDS.
3. ILO’s comparative advantages:
Tripartite structure
Technical cooperation
ILO’s global network of fields offices and MDTs
Social dialogue

7. II. ILO GLOBAL PROGRAMME ON HIV/AIDS AND THE WORLD OF WORK
Respond to the ILC Resolution concerning HIVAIDS and the world
of work ( 88th session , June 2000)
MAIN OBJECTIVES:
To help member States combat the spread and threat of HIV/AIDS
through workplace initiatives; cope with the social and economic
consequences of the pandemic; provide protection and support to
workers and their families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS
DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE:
To strengthen the capacity of ILO’s tripartite constituents to
implement policies and programmes to prevent the spread of
HIV/AIDS, protect the rights of affected workers, and mitigate the
impact of the epidemic on the world of work.

8. PRIORITY AREAS Mobilizing and strengthening the capacity of social
partners to design and implement workplace policies
and programmes on HIV/AIDS;
Advise governments on reform of labour laws to
address HIV/AIDS and on integrating the workplace
component in national AIDS plan (Support to National
Strategic Plan);
Awareness raising and advocacy;
Research into social, economic and labour impact
of HIV/AIDS .

9. III. ILO CODE OF PRACTICE ON HIV/AIDS AND THE WORLD OF WORK
Launched formally at the UNGASS, New-York, June 2001;
Is a tool to implement the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment for
the development and implementation of national HIV/AIDS policies
at the workplace (sections 49 and 69);
Promotes a rights-based approach to HIV/AIDS, and establishes
principles and international guidelines for HIV/AIDS policies and
programmes in the world of work;
Addresses the following areas:
- Prevention through information, education and training
- Protection of worker's rights
- Care and support for workers
Has been translated into 20 languages in responses to local demand

10. IV. IMPLEMENTING THE ILO CODE OF PRACTICE
1. Rights at work:
Fundamental Human rights- equality (gender, vulnerable groups, e.g. Migrants);
Workplace policy and programme;
Reform of labour legislation.
2. Capacity building:
Strategic planning;
OSH- labour protection-Social security;
Decent work: employment objective- LM, Mobility;
Database: indicators for monitoring employment and
labour market implications;
Sectors: transport, tourism, health, informal work.

11. 3. Mobilizing social partners:
Promote ILO Code of Practice:
Tripartism- MOL’s, Employers’ and Workers'
organizations
Political mobilisation-leadership; public support
Advocacy
Consensus building
Partnerships: Private sectors, NGOs, UNAIDS Cosponsors and other UN agencies.

12. V. TECHNICAL COOPERATION: FIELD ACTIVITIES
Presentation of the ILO Code of Practice at the
country level
Fact-finding missions and status assessment studies;
Advisory services to governments on integrating
HIV/AIDS into labour legislation
Projects with social partners and workplace
programmes (Transport and informal sectors);
Micro and small enterprise project;

13. V. TECHNICAL COOPERATION: FIELD ACTIVITIES
(continued)
Identification of best practice initiatives at the
workplace;
Study tour of tripartite delegations from Russia and
Azerbaijan to Brazil;
National tripartite workshops on HIV/AIDS and the
world of work;
Sub-regional workshops of employers;
Training for labour inspectors…

14. VI. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER UN AGENCIES
Cosponsor of UNAIDS
Convening Agency for HIV/AIDS and the world of work;
Convenor of the IATT on HIV/AIDS and the world of work;
Member of the IATT on:
- Country Level Response on HIV/AIDS
- Gender and HIV/AIDS
- Young People and HIV/AIDS
- Education
- HIV/AIDS Care and Support
- Orphans and other Vulnerable Children
- HIV/AIDS and Children in Situation of Conflict

15. VI. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER UN AGENCIES
(continued)
Joint project with UNIFEM on the Care economy,
HIV/AIDS and the world of work;
PAF funded projects in Madagascar, Ethiopia and
South Africa.

16. THANK YOU