HIV/AIDS and Work
All about HIV and AIDS in the Workplace in Malawi, HIV/AIDS Workplace Policies, HIV/AIDS and Healthcare in the Workplace and more on Mywage.com
Malawi with a population of 14 million people has a very high national prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS. According to the Malawi Demographic and Health Survey of 2004, the estimated national adult prevalence rate in 2004 was 12.7 percent of the population.
This is an issue that affects the workplace, in terms of funeral expenses, death benefits, medical care, low productivity and high absenteeism. Both the government and the private sector have now started to introduce HIV/Aids workplace policies.
The Malawi Business Coalition against HIV/AIDS (MBCA) is institution that is playing an important part in sensitising companies to introduce HIV/AIDS workplace policies. The institution educates employees on the HIV/AIDS pandemic, sees to the distribution of ARV treatment (antiretroviral treatment) and also supplies condoms.
In addition, several companies in Malawi and the civil service have come up with various ways of educating their employees about the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Here are some steps the companies are taking:
- Printing HIV/AIDS messages on products manufactured
- Placing both male and female condoms in the workplace
- Conducting HIV/AIDS workshops in the workplace
- Printing HIV/AIDS messages on employees pay slips
- Having HIV/AIDS stickers on employers’ vehicles.
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Putting in place an HIV/AIDS workplace committee
Are employees with HIV or AIDS protected in the workplace in Malawi?
Some institutions in Malawi are yet to introduce HIV/AIDS workplace policies which play a part in protecting HIV/AIDS employees, but others have made progress.
One such company, Blantyre Print and Publishing has a policy which states that HIV/AIDS employees may continue to work as long as they are able to perform their duties safely.
The policy says if a staff member is unable to perform their tasks adequately, managers must resolve the problem following procedures that relate to ill health or poor performance.
The policy also says the institution will strive to counsel and encourage their employees, as well as promote access to the highest quality ARV therapy available for staff.
In its policy the company says it will strive to develop links with organisations providing care and support for persons affected by the pandemic. The company says this is one way of building confidence in their employees.
Gender and HIV/AIDS
It is important that that education and awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS explore the power relations between women and men that underpin the pandemic. Workplace policy that deals with HIV/AIDS should ideally also contain gender-related issues.
Men and women should have equal opportunities for employment, training, promotion and opportunity to rise into decision-making positions despite being HIV positive.
Gender-sensitive grievance procedures should be put in place to ensure that women, especially those with HIV, are not abused or harassed and that anyone found doing that will be punished.
