Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
From left: James Moss-Solomon, chief corporate affairs officer of GraceKennedy; Abner Mason, executive director for the AIDS Responsibility Project; John Junor, Minister of Health, and Dr. Cesar Simich, managing director of Merck Sharp and Dohme, in discussion after the launch of the Jamaica Employers' Federation, 'Uniting Against HIV/AIDS: Good for People ... Good for Business Survey Report on HIV/AIDS in the Workplace and a Private Sector Response Strategy' at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, yesterday. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
DESPITE EFFORTS to reduce stigma and discrimination attached to HIV/AIDS, a recent survey has revealed that 13 per cent of employers would decline to hire an HIV-positive individual.
The survey, which was conducted by the AIDS Responsibility Project (ARP), led by the Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF), interviewed 23 companies in 11 sectors in February.
It was also revealed that 62 per cent of companies have no HIV/AIDS-specific employment policies.
Abner Mason, executive director of ARP, said managers and human resources departments operating without HIV-specific policies resort to ad hoc responses when HIV/AIDS is disclosed or suspected in the workplace.
Mr. Mason said yesterday that people avoid being tested for HIV/AIDS because of a fear of losing their job. He was speaking during the launch of the survey, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston.
Additionally, the survey found that 96 per cent of companies have confidentiality policies covering HIV status, but only half have any enforcement procedures in place. All employers reported that they would not fire an employee on the basis of HIV/AIDS.
In the meantime, the JEF is to launch a national business council on HIV/AIDS in May.
The JEF said the primary focus of the council would be to address stigma and discrimination in the workplace.
Thirteen companies operating in Jamaica have signed a corporate values statement that reflects the proposed mission statement of the national business council on HIV/AIDS.
CRITICAL ROLE
In his remarks, John Junor, Minister of Health, said the role of the business council would be critical in augmenting the work of the national AIDS programme.
He noted that 70 per cent of the 22,000 Jamaicans living with HIV/AIDS are not aware of their status. Mr. Junor told the gathering that, if emphasis is not placed on getting people tested, "we are going to be in serious trouble".
He announced that the Global Fund had approved a second tranche of $240 million to assist with the funding of HIV projects and providing anti-retroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS-infected persons.
The survey was funded by a public-private partnership between Merck Sharp and Dohme and the United States Agency for International Development.
