Pretoria – The Department of Labour on Friday launched a study which will be used as a tool to help cushion the devastating economic effects of HIV and Aids in the workplace.
The study, called: “What Works in HIV and Aids and the World of Work in South Africa” is a joint initiative of the Department of Labour, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and will be funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a technical development agency owned by the German government.
The study will involve conducting a comprehensive assessment of 50 workplaces. It will showcase practical workplace initiatives and interventions in the field of HIV and Aids – by focusing on workplaces that have already initiated programmes, so as to learn from existing knowledge base.
Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant explained: “The study will involve obtaining documented evidence of effective responses from 50 workplaces which will be collated for analysis as to which interventions had the greatest impact resulting in game-changing outcomes.
“In all, a business case for the strengthening HIV and Aids programmes in South African workplaces will be made through the compilation of solid quantifiable measurable evidence as well as through interviews with our key stakeholders in selected workplaces.”
Minister Oliphant was confident the study will identify, analyse and document successful and replicable programmes and policies that can benefit both small and large workplaces across all sectors in South Africa.
Evidence obtained from the study will also inform steps to be taken in order to enhance policy and best practices in dealing with the challenge of HIV and AIDS in the workplace.
HSRC Chief Executive Officer Professor Crain Soudine emphasised the need for partnerships to curb HIV and Aids in the workplace. “It is important to understand what people with HIV are going through,” he said.
GIZ Programme Manager Dr Bernd Appelt said he was impressed that the Department of Labour had chosen HIV and Aids as focal point. “Health and safety plays an important role in the economy, therefore there is a need for more funding for such programmes,” he said.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) officially launched the “Effective Responses to HIV and AIDS at Work” study in April this year.
The study provides a comprehensive assessment of HIV and AIDS workplace initiatives across 10 African countries. – SAnews.gov.za
