IAC Vienna 2010 Zuzanna Muskat-Gorska International Trade Union Confederation LABOUR PERSPECTIVE ON CONFIDENTIALITY OF HIV STATUS

HIV attacks the most productive part of the population – the labour force (93,% of PLHIV years of age) Impact of HIV/AIDS on the world of work needs measures And workplace HIV/AIDS action has proven a success! But workplace management of HIV/AIDS (eg. treatment) involves disclosure.

Confidentiality in the Workplace Confidentiality – through data protection standards Fair and lawful data processing Purpose of data processing Data minimization Period of data maintenance minimization Data use limitation Unambiguous consent Data accuracy Data subject’s rights to access and redress data Measures against security risk Auditability and sanctions Staff training Separate storage of personal data Staff bound by the rules of medical secrecy + Consultation with workers’ representatives!

The new ILO HIV and AIDS Directive -Adopted 1 month ago ( ) -First international HR standard on HIV and AIDS and the world of work -Testing, privacy and confidentiality was subject to a dramatic debate Voluntary, confidential workplace testing Mandatory workplace testing (OSH reasons, third parties) vs.

The new ILO standard Paragraph 24 “Testing must be genuinely voluntary and free of any coercion and testing programmes must respect international guidelines on confidentiality, counseling and consent” Paragraph 27 “…access to (HIV related information) should be governed by rules of confidentiality consistent with the ILO code of practice on the protection of workers’ personal data, 1997, and other relevant international data protection standards” Also in the Preamble (par. 6) and Paragraphs 3(h),14(g), 25, 26, 28, 29, 37(c) Workers’ and Employers united! Experience in HIV action = support for confidentiality

Problems Data protection standards is a necessary condition of confidentiality In most highly affected countries they do not exist in law!

Conclusions Possibility of a wide social consensus on HIV and AIDS in the workplace The need for implementation of the new ILO Recommendation The need for further action More horizontal advocacy - HIV/AIDS testing, privacy and confidentiality together with data protection demands The need for social consultation on both.

Thank you Zuzanna Muskat-Gorska Global Trade Union HIV/AIDS Coordinator ITUC International Trade Union Confederation Boulevard du Roi Albert II 5, B 1, BE-1210 Brussels, Belgium tel : +32 (0) fax: +32 (0)