Belize endorses workplace policy on HIV/AIDS
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| Published on Thursday, November 29, 2007 |
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BELMOPAN, Belize: The Ministry of Labour has teamed up with the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, National AIDS Commission (NAC) and National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) to streamline a Work Place Policy that will assist in the better understanding and tackling of the epidemic in the labour sector.
Attorney General and Minister of Labour, Francis Fonseca, spoke about the work that went into the formulation of the HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy document at a ceremony held at the Labour Department in Belize City on Wednesday.
The main thrust came from the National AIDS Commission, which has long recognised that the workforce is at risk. A committee was established with representatives of the Ministry of Labour, NTUCB, BCCI and NAC who worked on the document.
President of the BCCI, Emile Mena, said that his organization also recognizes that the labour sector faces grave challenges as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In response the Chamber launched the first Belize Business Coalition against HIV and AIDS.
“Our objectives are to develop and promote corporate HIV and AIDS policies and programs; sensitize our managers and employees by raising awareness in our businesses about HIV and AIDS through information dissemination and education; promote the know your status campaign, fair employment practices for all, using the ILO code of practice as a guide; and contribute our management, marketing and other technical expertise and skills to the National HIV and AIDS Response,” said Mena.
Mena said that labour and capital are intertwined; therefore, the partnership between labour sector and GOB is crucial. He also suggested that the “old paradigm of suspicion and mistrust” between employers and employees must change.
“I encourage workers and employers to talk more and develop mutual strategies that will address the concerns of each, knowing that we rise or fall together. Collectivity, harmony, trust and a shared vision must be the way forward,” he remarked.
Labour Minister Fonseca handed copies of the Workplace Policy and revised edition of Labour Management Relations to the Presidents of BCCI and NTUCB. | | | | Reads : 389 | | | |
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