Plan to stop bias against HIV/ Aids sufferers at workplace

KUALA LUMPUR: The government intends to come up with a policy to stop discrimination against HIV/Aids sufferers so that they are not oppressed at the workplace.

Minister of Human Resources M. Kula Segaran said so far, Malaysia has no laws relating to the matter.

“Looks like Malaysia has no law or regulations on the matter, but it is being discussed by the ministry to bring the necessary laws to prevent discrimination at the workplace.

“We are thinking of instituting regulations for sure, whether there is a need for laws against such discrimination (needs to be looked into). In this country, you cannot be dismissed just because you have a critical illness, we do not allow it. Similarly, if you have HIV, you cannot be dismissed but nothing is spelt out in the law,” he said.

He said this at a press conference after presenting the Asean Red Ribbon for Outstanding Workplace Award (Arrow) to seven companies from the region (Asean) here yesterday.

Kula Segaran also said the need for such laws was to educate employers and workers to know their rights.

Previously, Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) president Bakhtiar Talhah was reported to have said that MAC was in its discussions with the Human Resource Ministry in determining policies involving HIV/Aids sufferers as well as those seeking treatment and should not be discriminated when they were applying for jobs.

Meanwhile, the Arrow award is presented to companies which have made strides and achievements in HIV/Aids prevention and control programmes at the workplace.

The companies awarded today include Petronas (Malaysia), Jerudong Park Medical Center (Brunei), Dewhirst Co.Ltd. (Cambodia), Star Energy Geothermal (Wayang Windu) Ltd (Indonesia), Knowles Electronics Corporation (Philippines), MSD International GMBH (Singapore) and Sanden Co. Ltd. (Thailand).