By Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad and Tobago Correspondent
Email: stephen@caribbeannetnews.com

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: A draft policy document on HIV/AIDS in the workplace is soon to be laid before the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament. This was confirmed by Labour Minister, Rennie Dumas while addressing a function in Port of Spain.

According to Dumas, the HIV/AIDS draft policy is expected to protect workers infected with the virus while at the workplace.  He also said his ministry plans to develop new child labour laws. A National Employment Service for Easy Access to Jobs is also being established.

Over the last six years the government has spent millions of dollars on prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDs cases in the country. However, according to one report, stigma and discrimination against persons living with the disease still remain a major challenge.

The government believes that appropriate laws will begin at least in some way to address some of those issues within the workplace.