40 companies enforce code of practice to accommodate people living with HIV/AIDs

KUALA LUMPUR: Forty local companies have put into place a code of practice that enables people living with HIV/AIDS to work alongside others in a safe environment, said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).

Its deputy director-general (occupational safety and health) Omar Mat Piah said although the Code of Practice on Prevention and Management of HIV and AIDS at the Workplace was not compulsory, it expected more companies to sign up.

Omar said it had successfully guided the companies in implementing the code in the last five years and developed a sound HIV/ AIDS policy at their workplaces.

The code outlines effective ways of preventing and managing HIV and AIDS at the workplace as well as promotes education and awareness on HIV/AIDS and supports the creation of a non-judgemental, non-discriminatory work environment.

“We could not reiterate our stand any clearer – HIV discrimination has no business at the workplace,” he said during the Malaysian Business Consortium on HIV and AIDS Forum here yesterday.

DOSH, said Omar, had together with the Malaysian AIDS Council and Malaysian AIDS Foundation mitigated such cases and presented evidence that employees living with HIV bore no risk of transmitting the virus to their colleagues within workplace-appropriate interactions.

Advances in anti-retroviral treatment that was being provided free by the Government, said Omar, had also improved the health of the people living with HIV as it brought down the viral load to undetectable levels.

“This significantly reduces the risk of transmission to an unidentified partner, preventing AIDS related deaths – all of which will result in improved productivity and a healthier work environment,” he said.

Evidence also suggested that workplace practices and policies that stigmatised and discriminated against employees living with HIV would only cost businesses valuable talent, expertise and overall productivity. Omar said United Nations’ goal of Ending AIDS 2030 meant the strengthening of commitment to safe, healthy workplaces that respected the rights and dignity of employees living with HIV.

Malaysian AIDS Council president Bakhtiar Talhah said most complaints of discrimination were done informally.

Although there were only 15 to 20 complaints a year – with five involving workplace discrimination – the council believed many went unreported, he said.

Bakhtiar said 75% of new HIV cases reported were also for those aged between 20 and 39, which was the most productive years of a person’s life. As of December, there were 108,519 HIV cases reported since 1986, out of which 17,916 resulted in deaths.