THE GOVERNMENT is pushing to introduce the proposed HIV/AIDS policy for the workplace by year-end.

A joint select committee of Parliament set up to examine the Green Paper on the National Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS held its first meeting yesterday at Gordon House.

Committee chairman, Pearnel Charles, said the parliamentary group was working to complete its review of the document by December.

Following its delibera-tions, a report will be submitted to the House of Representatives and the proposed policy will be debated.

Director of the occupational safety and health department at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Robert Chung, who made a presentation to the committee, said persons with HIV/AIDS continued to experience challenges at the workplace.

He told the committee that the ministry was now dealing with a case where a company directed its entire staff to do HIV/AIDS tests and return the results to management.

The HIV/AIDSworkplace policy

It recommends that HIV testing be carried out on a voluntary basis with appropriate pre- and post-test counselling.

It is designed to help in the development of a caring, supportive and responsible working environment that will protect workers.

It is intended to reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination and help in the reduction of HIV/AIDS transmission.