MISA and International Labour Organisation (ILO) are partnering to encourage HIV Counselling and Testing in the Retail Automotive Industry.

The facts on people living with HIV in the world are startling:

• 19 million of the estimated 35 million people living with HIV today do not know that they have HIV. This is according to the UNAIDS GAP Report released in July 2014.
• South Africa accounts for almost 19% (6.1 million) of the estimated global number of people living with HIV.
• More than 2 million people living with HIV in South Africa are on Anti-retroviral Treatment, however, there may be more than a third of people living with HIV who do not know they have HIV.
• In order to access treatment, a person with HIV has to undergo an HIV test and eligibility tests for accessing Anti-retroviral Treatment (ART).

“In an industry with almost 300 000 working women and men, it is critical to consider strengthening wellness, HIV and TB workplace programmes to ensure no one is being left behind,” says Simphiwe Mabhele, HIV and AIDS Technical Specialist of the ILO.

“Partnering with MISA is an important first step in adding momentum to the ILO’s ZERO@Work Campaign and VCT@Work initiative.”

The initiative seeks to reach 5 million workers globally with Voluntary and confidential HIV Counselling and Testing (VCT) by 2015.

“The initiative will ensure that people who test positive are referred to HIV services for care and support, and treatment if needed,” notes Simphiwe.

“If workplaces in the automotive industry, and particularly in the retail sector, embrace this initiative it could signify one of the most important advances we’ve seen in expanding access to HIV testing within a healthy, enabling environment and linking to on-going support including treatment.”

“At MISA, we feel strongly about eradicating stigmas and discrimination of any kind in the workplace and this is an area where there are still many misconceptions,” says Martlé Keyter, MISA’s CEO Operations. “We are therefore committed to work with the ILO to not only educate members on these conditions, but also to encourage members to know their HIV and TB status so that they can get the necessary care and treatment.”

The ILO and MISA collaboration will assist workplaces in the retail automotive industry to strengthen workplace programmes that address HIV and AIDS in line with the National Strategic Plan on HIV, TB and STIs (2012-2016). The collaboration will focus on two elements – HIV Counselling and Testing and the Development of Wellness, HIV and TB Workplace Programmes.

About VCT@WORK
The VCT@Work initiative builds on the ILO’s Recommendation on HIV and AIDS and the World of Work (No.200), to ensure safe and healthy working environments free of stigma and discrimination.

Following the adoption of ILO Recommendation No.200, the South African Department of Labour launched a revised Code of Good Practice on HIV and AIDS and the World of work through a Government Gazette in June 2012. The Code and its Technical Assistance Guidelines seek to provide guidance on the development and implementation of Wellness, HIV and TB Workplace Programmes.

The VCT@Work Initiative is directly linked to the HIV Counselling and Testing strategy implemented by the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and number generated through the initiative will be shared with SANAC.

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