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Sexual Health Exchange, 1996 - no. 1
HIV/AIDS and labour rights
Many human rights charters regarding HIV/AIDS emphasize that the right to freedom from discrimination in the workplace is essential. Recently, the Southern African Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) and Health Safety and Environment Programme have called for a regional code and national laws on AIDS and employment to protect job rights. These should encompass the following points:
 Treatment of employees with HIV like any healthy employee and treatment of employees with AIDS like any employee with a life-threatening illness- Regular HIV/AIDS education involving all staff in paid time
- Confidentiality and no obligation to inform employers of HIV status
- No pre-employment testing for HIV
- No dismissal on grounds of HIV status
- No HIV testing for training or promotion
- Non-discriminatory employee benefits and advice on benefits options
- Compassionate leave rights
- Safe work and safe first aid
- Protection of people living with HIV/AIDS against victimization
- Confidentiality in grievance handling procedures.
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