The Ministry of Labour says 12 of its Labour, Occupational Safety and Health officers recently completed a Master Training Programme aimed at “equipping them with the knowledge and skills to plan, support, monitor and evaluate HIV/AIDS workplace programmes.”
At a graduation ceremony held at the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) office National Project Coordinator of the training programme, Sean Wilson, commended the ministry for allowing its staff to participate in the 15-day programme.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the session aimed at strengthening the ministry’s capacity, employers and workers’ organizations and select enterprises to develop and implement workplace policies and programmes to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS at work places. It addressed issues of employment and related stigma and discrimination against persons living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Wilson noted that the programme prepared persons to deal with challenges they might encounter. It also highlighted why companies should have a workplace programme. Practical experiences were shared and persons were apprised on how to deal with peer pressure counselling, and peer education.
Permanent Secretary at the ministry Trevor Thomas said persons who are infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS can make significant contributions to national development. He said too the workplace is the primary starting point for addressing any HIV/AIDS related issues as that is where most persons spend the greater part of the day and their working life.
According to GINA, officers who have been trained are now tasked with ensuring that the workplace committees are effective. Thomas noted that “workers should be provided with opportunities to meet their potential and this can only happen when they have robust, effective programmes to address all their needs.” He noted too that more sectors need to be included in such programmes particularly the mining and forestry sectors which boast their own challenges.
GINA said the programme was a collaborative effort among the ministry, the ILO and the United States Department of Labour HIV/AIDS workplace Education Programme. The ministry in collaboration with the National Tripartite Committee launched the National Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS in 2003 as part of its drive to prevent the spread of disease in the workplace and to stem the associated stigma and discrimination.
